A Howlong bakery knows how to keep its pies on the prize.
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Howlong Country Bakery claimed Australia's Best Plain Mince Pie and Australia's Best Vegetarian Pie in the Great Aussie Pie and Pastie Competition 2025, which was announced in Sydney on Thursday, July 17.
Of the 15 pies they entered in the national competition, they scored 15 medals, including two gold.
Howlong Country Bakery co-owner Catherine Fyffe said they were thrilled to claim two of the major awards in the national competition.
She said it was their best result since taking over the business five years ago.
"We've got gold, silver and bronze medals before, but it's the first time we've managed to get two Australia's Best categories," she said.
"Then, we got a medal for every single pie we entered in the competition."
Mrs Fyffe said the Best Plain Mince Pie category was a hotly-contested, prestigious category.
She said they won best vegetarian pie with their lentil dahl creation, which was only made for the first time two weeks ago.
"We're very conscious of using good quality, local ingredients and taking the time to cook the meat and rest the pastry," Mrs Fyffe said.
"It's quality control at every step of the way."
Together with husband and co-owner Stephen Fyffe, Mrs Fyffe said they were proud of their team of six bakers and 34 staff overall.
On top of gold medals for their lentil dahl and pepper pies, they scored silver medals for their plain mince, butter chicken, curry, cheese and bacon, cauliflower and broccoli, Caesar chicken, mushroom, beef brisket, Thai beef red curry, minted lamb, pork and plum and Mexican pies.
The bakery picked up a bronze for its chicken, leek and camembert pie.
Glenrowan Bakery scored silver medals for its slow-cooked silverside, cheese and seeded mustard pie and chicken, cranberry and brie pie.
They also bagged bronze for mushroom and steak and mushroom pies.
Rutherglen bakery Caffeine_n_machine gained silver medals for its chicken, honey and mustard pie, roast lamb and vegetable pie and corned beef, white sauce and vegetable pie.
It also bagged bronze for its beef and Guinness pie and apprentice plain mince pie (Jose Taylor).
A total of 370 bakeries entered 1800 pies in the national competition this year.
Mrs Fyffe said winning two of the 16 Australian Best categories in the competition was invaluable.
"It's incredible exposure for our business Australia-wide," she said.
"We get to hold the titles for 12 months and it's recognition for our hardworking bakers.
"It's not an easy job; people think it's easy, but baking is a very technical job."
