A popular catchphrase these days is “we’re going to need a bigger boat”.
But for Rolling Pin Pies & Cakes, it’s not a boat they need – it’s more shelf space to show off all their trophies.
Alongside a swag of medals at the Great Aussie Pie Competition, Rolling Pin was judged to have the best plain pie in the country for its chunky mince pie.
Rolling Pin, which has two shops in Ocean Grove and one each in Leopold and Queenscliff, submitted 15 entries to the competition and won 15 medals, 13 of them gold.
Apprentice Hayden Telehin won a gold medal for an ‘apprentice pie’ and came runner-up in the overall apprentice rankings countrywide.
Rolling Pin general manager Nathan Williams said he was proud of his team after a challenging COVID-19 period.
“It feels amazing,” he said.
“We’ve got a pretty young team. Three of our guys only started in June.
“April was extremely challenging, Queenscliff and Ocean Grove being heavily reliant on tourists. They were scary times.
“But there were periods where it was getting back to normal and then another lockdown and then you’re waiting for the tourists again.
“Then all the Melbournites with their new-found freedom, which we welcomed, it’s been busy since.”
Hayden Telehin said his gold medal-winning apprentice pie was created through “trial and error” and “practice”.
The qualified chef launched head-first into an apprenticeship at Rolling Pin after moving from Williamstown.
“I think my background really helped,” he said.
“Just knowing how it all works and then the rush and business side is second nature almost.
“It’s the first pie comp I’ve ever entered and to come out second overall as an apprentice, I was pretty lucky.
“I moved here a week before the first lockdown and jumped right in. We’re loving it.”
Entrants in the Great Aussie Pie Competition send four samples of each pie to be judged. Judges look out for things such as pastry, lamination, sensory appeal and stability.
Gold Medal
category type description
plain mince mince
plain mince-chunky combo
plain apprentice combo
gourmet red meat lamb pea potato gold
gourmet poultry chicken carbonara
gourmet game roo rendang
gourmet seafood scallop korma
gourmet poultry peking duck
gourmet red meat pepper
gourmet seafood surf and turf
gourmet brekkie brekkie
gourmet seafood seafood laksa
gourmet red meat beer and beef
Silver Medal
gourmet vegetarian vegan chilli
Bronze Medal
gourmet poultry nasi goreng
