Ellerslie based Richoux Patisserie has won the Supreme title in the seventh annual New Zealand Vegan Pie Awards with a Cheese Burger Pie, and renowned Wanaka pie producer, Kai Pai has taken out the Wholesale Commercial Pie award.
Richoux Master Baker, Jason Hay’s pies won three of the eight categories and gained a Highly Commended in the Sweet section, proving the Ellerslie Main Rd venue’s reputation as a foodie favourite.
The task of scoring the 72 entries fell to food and beverage expert Aaron Pucci and Jasbir Kaur, President of the NZ Chef Association in Auckland, along with Brad Jacobs and Kylie Alla. Judging took place on World Vegan Day (November 1) at Kind Café in Auckland.
Established in 2010 Kai Pai Bakery of Wanaka, who’s winning Roast Veg Cashew Curry Pie took top Wholesale Commercial spot, has grown from a small bakery to a large commercial manufacturing operation in Wanaka within three years.
“Our purpose is to deliver high quality, award-winning products at a realistic and sustainable price, where our customers can have confidence in our regulatory compliance, sustainability, customer focus and operational performance to support downstream customers,” says owner Jason Danielson.
Significant investments have been made in facilities and equipment to increase production capacity to 50,000+ pies a day and their products are distributed nationally to support food service, convenience and retail supermarket channels.
The full list of winners and runners up are:
Category: Wholesale Commercial
Winner: Kai Pai Bakery – Roast Veg Cashew Curry
Judges said: – A generous pie. Great presentation. Morish curried veg filling. Good flavours well-balanced. Enjoyable texture to eat.
Runner up: The Goodtime Pie Co. – Butta Chicken
Judges said: – Rich savoury flavour with solid meaty pieces. Visually appealing with herb and seed garnish. Tasty gravy filling the pastry nicely.
Category: Vegan Chicken
Winner: Piccolo Morso – Butter Chicken
Judges said: – Nice flavoured pastry. Filling flavour well balanced with a nice even consistent texture.
Runner up: The Pioneer Pie Company – Butter Chickenless
Judges said:- Pastry crispy. Nice appearance. Filling smooth and creamy not overpowering.
Category: Vegetable
Winner: Richoux Patisserie – Green Curry
Judges said: Flaky, flavoursome and delicious. Great presentation and eat ability. Balanced and well-cooked veg filling with great flavour housed in flaky golden pastry.
Runner up: Taste Café and Bakery – Amok Vegan
Judges said:- Generous and tasty looks great. Well-filled veg pie with simple classic presentation. Tasty pastry.
Category: Vegan Mince and Cheese
Winner: Fairlie Bakehouse
Judges said: – Nice flaky pastry. Funky design on top. Mince well-seasoned with generous cheese.
Runner up: Euro Patisserie Torbay
Judges said: Nice appearance. Shiny glossy pastry. Filling well-balanced with a decent amount of cheese.
Category: Vegan Steak & Cheese
Winner: Richoux Patisserie – Jalapeño Steak and Cheese
Judges said:- Succulent and spicy filling with golden flaky pastry casing. Well done! Great height and a flaky retake of a traditional pie top. Tasty twist on a classic flavour without straying from the expected.
Runner up: Richoux Patisserie
Judges said: – Classic and rich steak and cheese and very moreish . A beautifully presented pie with a great visual appearance inside and out. A representation of the classic steak and cheese flavour.
Category: Gluten-Free
Winner: Fairlie Bakehouse – American Pumpkin Pie
Judges said: – Nice pastry tender and golden. Visually appealing filling. Well-balanced, not too sweet with a nice spice level.
Runner up: Rainbow Kitchen – Pumpkin Satay
Judges said: – Beautiful pattern on top. Creamy filling. Generous size. Nice use of wholefoods.
Category: Cafe Boutique
Winner: Richoux Patisserie – Cheese Burger
Judges said: – Fantastic concept and deliciously executed. A tasty pie! Beautifully cooked pastry- home to a yum surprise!
Runner up: Tart Bakery – BBQ Cheese Steak
Judges said:- So tasty with deep BBQ flavours. Big flavour! This pie has a nice to eat flavour with well-layered pastry.
Category: Sweet
Winner: Wild Grain Patisserie – Vegan Peach Blueberry and Passionfruit
Judges said: – Presentation and appearance beautiful. Tender pastry. Filling not too sweet. Abundant filling.
Runner up: Richoux Patisserie – Apple Rhubarb Crumble
Judges said: – Presentation very appetising. Sweetness very well balanced. Gorgeous pink hue. Abundant fruit filling.
