Wellington social media star Kosmos shares his rules for the perfect mince and cheese pie

Wellington tradie-turned-social media star Petrie Apostolakis knows a thing or two about mince and cheese pies – he’s eaten one a day for almost two months.

So, when he says tomato sauce is only for Aussie pies, it’s worth listening.

From flaky pastry to juicy interior, Apostolakis (known online as Kosmos) is on a quest to find the best mince and cheese in the country, filming his research for a growing social media account.

Apostolakis says audiences like his honest, comedic skits and collaborations with other creators like Jimi Jackson, The Hits’ Ben Boyce, and TikTok content creator of the year Louis Davis.

Wellington social media personality Kosmos is on the hunt for the nation's best mince and cheese pie. Photo / Alyse Wright

“I love meeting new people, going to new bakeries, and helping the community out,” he says.

His mince and cheese pie skits have gone viral and he now has his own pie, the Kosmos Pie, at the Daily Bread Bakery in Waiwhetu.

“They’ve put it in their window, it’s really crazy.”

Watch our blind tasting challenge below.

Apostolakis is himself part of the local hospitality industry, running coffee carts in Wellington, and his dad runs a popular Greek food truck.

“I didn’t even know how to make coffee when I started,” the 28-year-old admits.

Despite his charismatic online persona, just a few years ago Apostolakis was nervous about having his picture taken, let alone eating a pie on-camera. But what started as content for his own business soon evolved into a community of almost 90,000 people following his food odyssey on Instagram.

Now, with the help of his close friend and fellow Wellingtonian Myles Gibbons at Undefeated Talent Management, the opportunities keep on coming. He’s even heading to Turkey this year to film content.

“It’s like my first day making coffee,” he says. “It’s obviously going to be crap at first. But you make 2000 coffees, you’re going to be better. It’s the same as this whole thing.”

So, what makes a good pie? What’s good pie etiquette? And are there any cardinal sins of pie eating? To put him to the test, we arranged a blind taste-test of three pies: from a service station, neighbourhood bakery and one that could be considered an artisan pie.

Here’s what Apostolakis revealed during his tasting:

1. Tomato sauce is for Australians

As soon as the tommy sauce packet is pulled put, a look of panic sweeps across Apostolakis’ face. “Do we not need to have this on the side?” “No,” he replies, “not unless you’re Australian.”

This subtle jab at our friends across the Ditch is for one simple reason: he says we just have better-quality pies over here. The mince is juicier, the cheese is better, and the taste doesn’t need to be heightened by the tang of tomato to drown out the dullness.

2. Knife and forks are a no-go (generally...)

The look of horror comes back again when a knife and fork are suggested.

“No, no, no, no,” Apostolakis says, shaking his head. The two-handed grip is the way to go, making sure you get full bites and all the best bits.

But if you used a knife and fork, you get to scoop up all the little bits and pieces you missed. Sure, it looks a little bit funny, but it’s practical. Eventually we compromise, deciding a knife and fork do indeed come in handy to gather the last morsels.

Kosmos and NZ Herald reporter Mitchell Hageman taste-test pies. Photo / Alyse Wright

3. Cheese should be a hero, not a handbrake

The cheesier the better, Apostolakis says, especially if it’s crispy.

And luckily, as we tuck into one of the mystery pies, one has a golden layer of crispy cheese on it, adding to the overall flavour profile.

It’s also important to note a good gravy-to-cheese ratio is paramount in the pie filling, to achieve the perfect texture.

4. Soggy bottoms are a bonus

No, it’s not what you think! We’re talking about the base of the pie, the part that holds all the filling. Apostolakis reckons the bottom of the pie shouldn’t be hard or crispy, it should be soft, so it is to easy to bite into the filling.

5. Everyone has different taste

Above all, Apostolakis says there’s one important thing to note: “Everybody’s taste is different.”

Some people might like having sauce as a side, others might prefer their cheese on top a little softer.

When it boils down to it, what matters is that this hearty Kiwi treat is part of our culture, no matter how you choose to eat it.

Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.