New Zealand’s baking dynasty now has its king back on the throne, with Patrick Lam of Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery in Tauranga winning his eighth Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award.
In this 25th year of the Pie Awards, Lam surprised the judges with a perfect Roast Duck, Onion and Mushroom entry in the Gourmet Meat category.
When Lam’s pie began its judging at NZ Bakels on July 27, celebrity chef judge Al Brown started a ripple of conversation regarding his first glimpse of the pie and excitement built from there.
Before long, a media frenzy had taken over the judging kitchen, with word of Lam’s entry spreading far and wide. The Supreme category judges noted Lam’s created to have great flavour, and beautiful pastry. The duck in question was moist and, with all other ingredients, created the perfect balance. And so it came to be, that New Zealand’s most awarded pie maker, Patrick Lam, took back his throne to applause and with respect.
NZ Bakels managing director, Brent Kersel, said that each time Patrick has won, there have been a different set of judges judging the category, and it just goes to show that if you present a stunning pie that ticks all the boxes and outshines every other pie, the judges are going to choose it.
“This year, I’d have to say, was one of the toughest years we’ve seen in the judging because there were so many superb pies to the point that it was too close to call a category winner in several of the categories, and they were re-judged. It was that close,” said Kersel.
Kersel congratulated and thanked all the entrants of this year’s competition, adding that the standard of pie-making was the highest to have ever been seen at the competition.
“Patrick’s hard work and passion to be the winner in our 25th year is an outstanding achievement. He deserves the glory. His Duck pie was exceptional, as were your Chicken and Vegetable and Vegetarian category gold winners.”
Patrick Lam was crowned Pie King, the 25th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award winner, at a spectacular Awards night in Auckland on the 1st of August.
