Gourmet pie a tasty winner

A Marton baker, who has had success in the national supreme pie awards, makes success look as easy as pie.

Pie-maker Ray Cooper of Ma and Pa's Homebaked Goodies won a silver award in the gourmet meat category, with his chicken, bacon, brie and mushroom combination.

More than 4500 pies were entered in the Bakel's Supreme Pie Awards from 444 bakeries all over the country. Winners were announced on Tuesday night.

Pie-maker Ray Cooper said he was on a "natural high" after learning of the win.

He didn't know until contacted by the Wanganui Chronicle. "We hadn't heard anything, so we thought it was water under the bridge. We weren't expecting a win. But it is a tasty pie, we are so rapt."

His team developed the unique filling for the competition, remaking their regular chicken pie with new ingredients. "Our chicken pies are pretty good anyway - they are shredded chicken in a creamy sauce. It was just a matter of adding a few more flavours."

Mr Cooper said they were aiming for a flavour combination that was "something different", using special ingredients like whole mushrooms.

The bakery sunk its teeth into the competition, entering eight of the 12 categories, from mince and gravy to chicken and vegetable.

Mr Cooper has been in the industry for more than 30 years, he said. It is the second time the bakery has entered, but the first time they have won. "The win will be good for us. There are lots of food shops around here now."