Overview
It's a war that's been waged for decades among regional bakeries the country over: who's dishing up Australia's best pie? Whose pastry comes closest to perfection? Which filling reigns supreme? Well, this year's top dog has officially been named, with Victoria's Country Cob Bakery taking out top honours at the 2020 edition of Australia's Best Pie and Pastie Competition.
While you might have your own thoughts about which pie makes the best road trip accompaniment, this nationally recognised contest is run by the experts at the Baking Association of Australia. The 2020 competition saw professional judges sample a thousands of pies from more than 300 bakeries, across three days. And for the third year in a row, Country Cob claimed the top title, this time winning over tastebuds with a pepper beef pie creation loaded with local ingredients. Last year, it won for its caramelised pork and pepper pie, and its satay seafood pie took out the top gong in 2018.
It's an impressive run for baker brothers Ryan and Chan Khun, who've owned and operated the bakery for the past four years.
The award-winning pie.
The two backed up their big win with a slew of other awards, including taking out the title of Best Plain Mince Beef Pie, Best Vegetarian Pie (for its curry cauliflower, chickpea, lentil and pie number) and Best Gourmet Pie (for an American barbecue whiskey pork and quail egg creation).
And if you fancy sampling Country Cob's primo pie for yourself, thankfully, the bakery is offering home delivery to all of metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas from its stores in Kyneton and Boronia.
Other winners included JoJo's Gluten Free Goodies vegetable pastie for Best Pastie, which is located in the Bass Coast Shire. Further afield, Queensland's Maleny Bakery took out Best Chunky Beef Pie, the Best Seafood Pie went to WA's Four Seasons Patisserie and Bels Gordon St Bakery in NSW's Port Macquarie snagged both Best Vegetarian Pastie and Best Poultry Pie (for its chicken cajun pie).
Country Cob Bakery is located at 130-132 Mollison Street, Kyneton and 951 Mountain Highway, Boronia, Victoria. It's currently offering home delivery across metropolitan Melbourne and to some regional areas.