Pie in the sky: Cameron's are up there

Baking great pies is in Cameron Butchart's blood.

So it's no surprise that the fourth-generation baker, who runs Butchart's Home Cookery in Gonville, received a high placing at the 2009 Bakel's New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.

Mr Butchart's steak and cheese pie was placed 10th in its category, out of 387 steak and cheese pies submitted by bakeries throughout New Zealand.

"I'm really happy about that, because steak and cheese is the classic Kiwi pie," Mr Butchart said.

It's the seventh time he's been placed in the competition's top 10.

"For a little bakery in Wanganui to make it to the top 10 is pretty good. There were no other bakeries in this area that were placed at all."

Mr Butchart's great-grandfather was a baker, and his grandfather established Butchart's Home Cookery in 1947.

Mr Butchart's father, also a baker, still works in the shop.

"I started helping out here when I was about eight, just doing things around the shop."

He now makes and sells around 1300 pies a week, and has an apprentice, Jesse Masters, and "really friendly staff" to help him.

So what makes a great pie?

Mr Butchart said attention to detail was important.

"It's about good pastry, good lift [layers], good colour and good flavour."

First place in the steak and cheese category was won by The Bakehouse Cafe in Opotiki.

There were 10 categories at the Supreme Pie Awards, including the Supreme Pie, which was won by Goldstar Patrick's Pie Bakery and Cafe in Tauranga, for its creamy bacon, mushroom and cheese pie.