MRS BROWNE BAKES TAKES OUT BALLARAT’S BEST PIE

Raspberry Goldfields Cookie Pie

Ballarat’s Best Pie for 2025 has been revealed. Mrs Browne Bakes’ raspberry goldfields cookie pie, available on the menu at Naomi & i, has come out on top of 36 savoury and sweet pies from local venues vying for the annual award.

The awards ceremony was held on Saturday 2 August at Itinerant Spirits and hosted bybeloved MasterChef Australia semi-finalist and Good Chef Bad Chef co-host Tim Bone.  

The judging panel included Tim,esteemed food writer Richard Cornish, Melbourne restaurant critic Kara Monssen, acclaimed Peruvian-born chef Alejandro Saravia andCity of Ballarat Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Taylor.

THE WINNERS

• Ballarat’s Best Pie grand prize winner: Mrs Browne Bakes’ raspberry goldfields cookie pie at Naomi & i
• 2^nd place – Ballarat’s Best Pie: Peach and Portuguese custard pie at Lydiard General  
• 3^rd place – Ballarat’s Best Pie: Apple sty pie at Mondegreen Café
• Best Savoury Pie: Lechon paksiw pie at Hotel Canberra’s Stables Café & Bar
• Best Sweet Pie: Mrs Browne Bakes’ raspberry goldfields cookie pie at Naomi & i
• Best Bakery Pie: Beef rendang pie at Turret Bakehouse
• Brilliantly Unexpected Pie: Lechon paksiw pie at Hotel Canberra’s Stables Café & Bar●            Pie with Purpose: Feral Pie at The Shared Table

Throughout August, pie lovers can taste these award-winning pies, along with all of the other delicious entries, as they explore some of the city’s best bakeries, cafes, restaurants and bars. 

Ballarat’s Best Pie maps are available from the Ballarat Information Centre or can be downloaded online at ballaratsbestpie.com.au

And with the introduction of the People’s Choice Pie this year, pie enthusiasts have the chance to have their say on the best of the best.It’s as simple as scanning the QR code at participating venues or heading to ballaratsbestpie.com.au. Voting is open until 31 August, with all entries going into the draw to win a luxury Ballarat escape valued at over $1500.

Here’s the full list of winners plus participating bakeries, cafes, restaurants and bars:

WINNING PIES

• Naomi & i: Mrs Browne Bakes’ raspberry goldfields cookie pie – a rich and creamy tangy raspberry drop filling in a luxurious double chocolate cookie shell, finished with white chocolate, crushed raspberries and gold shimmer.
• Lydiard General: Peach and Portuguese custard pie – warm custard and poached peaches in a sweet and buttery shortcrust pastry, dusted with icing sugar.
• Mondegreen Café: Apple sty pie – warm maple apple in a bacon fat shortcrust, topped with maple candied bacon and creamy maple bacon ice-cream.
• Hotel Canberra’s Stables Café & Bar: Lechon paksiw pie – roasted Western Plains pork simmered in aromatics, vinegar and bay leaves fills crisp pastry, crowned with pork crackling crumble and wrapped in banana leaf.
• The Shared Table: Feral Pie – slow-braised wild venison and mushrooms smothered in a red wine, juniper berry and caramelised shallot sauce, encased in a herbed thyme and rosemary pastry.  
• Turret Bakehouse: Beef rendang pie – a rich and hearty beef rendang in a housemade butter and beef tallow pastry for deep flavour.

SAVOURY PIES

• Not Your Grandma’s Pantry: Barbecue duck char siu and pineapple tart pie 
• The George Hotel: English porky pie 
• Saigon Alley: Pie-bo 
• Hideaway: Smoked brisket bourguignon pie  
• Hop Temple: Goat barbacoa pie 
• Aunty Jacks: Chicken pilsner pie  
• Eleanora: Fish pie 
• Eclectic Tastes: Beef bourguignon pie  
• Itinerant Spirits: Beef cheek, merlot and cheddar pithivier 
• Market Hotel: Classic beef and Guinness pie 
• Roy Hammond: Galbi-jjim and bone marrow pie  
• Grainery Lane: Smoked Waubra Prime lamb pie  
• Red Duck Brewery & Distillery: El quacko pie 
• Drive Café: Eggs benny pie 
• The Red Lion: Drunken pork pie 
• 1816 Bakehouse: Butter chicken pie  
• Café at Provincial: Provincial pork pie
• Boatshed Restaurant: Fig, rosemary and duck pie 
• Hope Bakery at Sovereign Hill: Whiskey and stout slow-braised beef pie  
• Emma’s Bakery: Tram Car pulled beef pie 
• Aussie Oggie Pasty Company: Prawn and scallop pie 
• Dyers Steak Stable: Mrs Stewart’s classic beef and red wine jus pie 
• Cornerstone Café: Lion’s mane osso buco pie  
• Beechworth Bakery Ballarat: Gold digger pie  
• Nolans: Pork, mushroom and vermouth pie 
• Tuki: Trout, sorrel and yabby pot pie 
• 321 Café Learmonth: Pollo enchilada pie  
• Magnolia: Confit lamb pie  

SWEET PIES

• Kilderkin Distillery: Limoncello meringue pie 
• Amaro at Mercure Ballarat: Queso-mango cremoso pie  

For full pie descriptions, visit www.ballaratsbestpie.com.au 

Image credit: Chris Mcconville