Cobram’s Hungie Fangs has done it again.
The award-winning bakery has claimed another win, coming first in the poultry pie category at the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition 2023 held last week.
The Cobram icon beat competitors from across Australia to win the event with its banana chicken curry pie, and Hungie Fangs head baker James Walker couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s just unreal,” Mr Walker said.
“There was 1500 bakeries which entered the competition. And I think probably 500 to 600 chicken (pie) entries.”
Though the idea of combining banana and chicken curry might sound odd, Mr Walker said that the banana flavouring was subtle.
“You don’t taste the banana itself. It’s more just to make it a little sweet tang to the curry,” he said.
According to Mr Walker, getting the exact measure of ingredients right was a months-long process.
Asked what made a good chicken pie Mr Walker said size was everything.
“Nice big chunks of chicken,” Mr Walker said.
“It can have a nice creamy source in my opinion but (it needs) nice solid chunks of chicken in it.”
The bakery also came second in the potato pie category thanks to apprentice baker Declan Cheong and his potato top pie.
The pie contains mincemeat, potato, peas, cheese and bacon.
Mr Cheong said he was proud of his achievements.
“I felt really good and very accomplished,” he said.
The latest accolade has continued Hungie Fangs’ successful 2023 run.
It won another two accolades after scoring third place in two categories at the recent Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph competition held in Merbein.
The bakery won third place in the professional fruit cake category and in the ‘innovative’ vanilla slice category with its pineapple lump vanilla slice.
As for those eager to take a bite out of the award-winning pie, Mr Walker has reassured that the pie will be available for residents to enjoy.