Experimental pies earn national honours

A pie dreamed up on the day of judging has helped a Bellarine bakery collect 11 medals at a national competition on the Gold Coast.

Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes won seven gold and four silver medals at Australia’s Best Pie Competition, where more than 1,800 pies from 370 bakeries across the country were judged.

The awards recognised a mix of traditional and experimental recipes, including a Honey Sriracha Chicken pie and a Chicken and Sweetcorn creation.

Rolling Pin general manager Nathan Williams said the result was particularly pleasing given the strength of the competition.

“The judges here on the Gold Coast tend to be hard markers, so it’s challenging to score well,” he said.

“[This is] a great result for us considering the competition out there.”

Williams said the Honey Sriracha Chicken pie was created at the last minute and went on to become one of the bakery’s strongest performers.

“One of them, I made up on the day – the Honey Chicken. It was a play on an old recipe. I thought I’d give it a go and it paid off,” he said.

“Likewise with the Chicken and Sweetcorn. This one was inspired by a Chinese soup and my wife had been asking me to try it out in a pie.

“I thought it might be boring, but there was some great seasonings which brought it to life.”

The latest result takes the bakery’s national title tally beyond 30.

Williams said the bakery’s ongoing success was a fitting tribute to former owner Geoff Chalker, who died earlier this month.

“He got us into these competitions in the first place to maintain that quality and push boundaries,” Williams said.

“We know he will be so proud of us that we are continuing on his legacy.”

Locals can taste the winning pies at any of the five Rolling Pin locations in Ocean Grove, Leopold, Queenscliff and South Geelong.