A panel of 12 of the most dedicated Pie connoisseurs from The Baking Association of Australia had the toughest of tasks, which involved tasting over 1500 pies from 340 of our nation’s finest bakeries all in the name of finding Australia’s best pie.
None however, topped the Country Cob Bakery’s fish amok pie.
Country Cob Bakery is a small chain bakery based in Victoria and they are the master minds behind the Cambodian inspired pastry.
So what is Fish Amok?
The bakery explains that the dish, “Fish amok or Amok Trei (អាម៉ុកត្រី) is a Khmer steamed fish curry with a mousse-like consistency, considered one of Cambodia’s national dishes. Fish amok is believed to have been a royal Khmer dish dating back to the Khmer Empire (9th -15th Century). The dish is usually served hot in either banana leaf or coconut shells eaten with steam rice. You still can find this popular & delicious dish in many restaurants in Cambodia nowadays.”
There were also class prizes handed out which include:
Class 1 Plain Mince Beef Pie – Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair SA
Class 2 Chunky Plain Beef Pie – Rolling Pin Pies, Geelong VIC
Class 3 Flavoured Beef Pie – Country Cob Bakery, VIC
Class 4 Vegetarian Pie – J & M Catering Pty Ltd, Wendouree VIC
Class 5 Seafood Pie – Country Cob Bakery, VIC
Class 6 Poultry Pie – Rolling Pin Pies, Geelong VIC
Class 7 Mushroom Pie – Country Cob Bakery, VIC
Class 8 Gourmet Pie – Heatherbrae Pies Sutton Forest, Exeter NSW
Class 9 Gluten Free Pie – Commonwealth Club, Yarralumla ACT
Class 10 Apprentice Plain Mince Beef Pie – Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair SA – Henning Ostendorf
Class 11 Traditional Pastie – Country Cob Bakery, VIC
Class 12 Cornish Pastie – J & M Catering Pty Ltd, Wendouree VIC
Class 13 Gourmet Pastie – Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair SA
Class 14. Vegetarian Pastie – Samuel Gee Pies & Pastries, Balaclava NSW
Class 15 Gluten Free Pastie – Jojo’s Gluten Free, Kernot VIC