Eurobake Kumeu gets Gold in Bakels Pie Awards

A Kumeu bakery and café has won a gold Bakels Supreme Pie Award 2024 for its bacon and egg pie.

Eurobake Espresso at 45 Main Road, Kumeu, also got “Highly Commended” for its mince and gravy category entry (6th), steak and cheese (7th), “Gourmet Meat” (lamb pie -10th) and “Vegetarian” (potato, buttercup pumpkin, carrot – 8th).

Cheth Bun and wife Zedina began the business in 2008 in Kamo, Whangarei, before moving to Kumeu in 2014.

“I started to join the competition in 2016,” says Cheth, adding his first try resulted in a Highly Commended for a mince and gravy pie, plus a few other top 10 efforts.

A second go in 2018 resulted in a Bronze for mince and cheese, then in 2021 the Kumeu bakery received two Silver Awards - for bacon and egg, and mince and gravy.

In 2023 Eurobake Espresso got a Highly Commended for its steak and cheese pie.

“Finally, we made it to the gold winner this year.

“I am so happy,” says Cheth.

“We would like to say ‘thank you very much’ to all customers for your support.”

Cheth says the gold award really means a lot to them.

“My wife and I love to bake and cook.

“We love to see all our customers enjoy the food we have made” he says, adding they are also happy to get feedback so they can improve.

New Zealand Bakels sponsors the Supreme Pie Awards and says the first awards were in 1996.

Bakels says the awards were established to help the baking industry constantly improve and innovate.

“The Bakels Supreme Pie Awards has now grown to around 600 entries and has become one of New Zealand’s most popular and prestigious food competitions.”

Judging is usually in July at Bakels, with experienced industry experts joined by a celebrity judge (this time Master Chef New Zealand and My Kitchen Rules judge and Auckland restaurateur Sid Sahrawat and daughter Zoya) to try pies in 11 categories.

“Gold medal winners from 10 of the 11 categories are then in contention for the Supreme Award.

“Presentations and celebrations take place a week after the judging day at an awards night where all finalists are invited to attend.”

The Supreme Award went to North Canterbury baker Arlyn Thompson from Rangiora Bakery for her Gourmet Meat category entry “Slow Cooked Sumatra Style Beef”.