Pie still tastes good to Rotorua

Ethan Gordon (left), McDonald's Rotorua restaurant manager, and Danielle Pattle, first assistant manager, bite into the relaunched Georgie Pie. Photo / Stephen Parker

The pie which fed many a midnight reveller two decades ago is back in Rotorua.

The Georgie Pie steak, mince and cheese variety was launched yesterday at McDonald's on the corner of Fenton and Amohau streets.

Rotorua franchisee Rob Parry said the restaurant had been chosen as one of eight nationwide to simultaneously launch the square-shaped pie this week.

It will be sold at 107 McDonald's outlets, including Rotorua Fairy Springs, by the end of the year before being available in all outlets by mid-2014.

"There has been an overwhelming response to bring the pie back after trial marketing, and Rotorua was chosen as the first of the new wave to offer it to customers," Mr Parry said.

The public's anticipation had been huge and a lot of people were lining up yesterday morning to sample it.

"The steak, mince and cheese flavour was the most popular of all Georgie Pies and that is the reason we have brought it back."

The pies are made in the former Georgie Pie factory in South Auckland from the original recipe using quality beef and short pastry - and less monosodiumglutanate, or MSG.

Special ovens, manufactured in Christchurch, cook the pastry to a golden hue for 30 minutes at about 90C.

The new version sells for $4.50 and it is unlikely customers will see the return of the $1 Georgie Pie.

"That was back in the day when petrol was 80 cents a litre," Mr Parry said.

McDonald's NZ managing director Patrick Wilson said: "It's been great to see customers familiar with the brand, and those who never had the opportunity to try Georgie Pie before, enjoy the product."