It seems New Zealand has found a way other than Rugby to get back at Australia for stealing Russell Crowe, with New Zealander Doug Meijer’s Sunshine Victoria-based Ka Pies winning Australia’s Best Pie competition with their Kiwi-inspired Thai Vegetable Curry pie.
Meanwhile, the worlds of meat pie lovers across Australia have been turned upside down.
Regardless of whether it flies in the face of Australia’s tradition of shitty Four & Twenty pies and huge dollops of ketchup, it is nevertheless an historic pie. The first ever a non-meat pie to win the Baking Association of Australia competition, Meijer, and Ka Pies have proven that you don’t need animal products to make a super tasty pie.
Posting about the win to Facebook, they were magnanimous in victory.
Inspired to start the business after realizing the gourmet pies that were so common in his home of New Zealand weren’t being sold over the Tasman, Meijer and his friend/founding business partner Adrian Aspwoude had no experience as bakers when they started out. Going on to win a total of 18 medals over 3 competitions including the recent gold for best pie, their confidence has more than payed off.
Offering a range of meat, vegetarian and vegan pies, the business has grown to dozens of locations in Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales. With the boys not holding the trophy for best pie, be sure to see them expand further from here.
Visit their website to find out more.
