Winter festivities are set to continue into August as Ballarat's Best Pie competition launches into its third consecutive year.
From 1 - 31 August, residents and visitors to Ballarat will have their choice of 36 savoury and sweet pies from some of the city's top cafes, restaurants and bakeries.
Entrants will be vying for the grand prize of Ballarat's Best Pie 2025, along with bragging rights in six other categories including the all-new Brilliantly Unexpected Pie, Pie with Purpose and People's Choice Pie.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves is confident there is a pie to satisfy all taste buds and palates.
"The line-up of options this year is impressive," Cr Hargreaves said. "Sweet and savoury, traditional and creatively ambitious, it's a showcase of what Ballarat's culinary scene has to offer."
Just as impressive as the entries is the 2025 judging panel, comprising acclaimed Peruvian-born chef Alejandro Saravia, Melbourne restaurant critic and presenter Kara Monssen, MasterChef Australia favourite and Good Chef Bad Chef co-host Tim Bone, esteemed food journalist Richard Cornish and City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Taylor.
Last year's winner, Itinerant Spirits, wowed the judges with their wild orchard apple and Vansetter Vodka pie, taking out both the Grand Prize and Best Sweet Pie. This year, the venue will host the awards ceremony, set to take place on Saturday 2 August and hosted by renowned cook, author and television presenter Julia Busuttil Nishimura.
With so many entries, Cr Hargreaves said the judges have a tough yet tasty task ahead of them, as does the community.
"The People's Choice Pie gives everyone the opportunity to vote for their favourite pie so grab a map, plan your pie-tinerary and make the most of this delicious celebration of local talent," Cr Hargreaves said.
For full details including a map of pie destinations, visit ballaratsbestpie.com.au
The list of pies participating in the competition is as follows:
Savoury Pies
- Barbecue duck char siu & pineapple tart pie at Not Your Grandma's Pantry
- Beef bourguignon pie at Eclectic Tastes
- Beef cheek, merlot & cheddar pithivier at Itinerant Spirits
- Beef rendang pie at Turret Bakehouse
- Butter chicken pie at 1816 Bakehouse
- Chicken pilsner pie at Aunty Jacks
- Classic beef & Guinness pie at the Market Hotel
- Confit lamb pie at Magnolia
- Drunken pork pie at The Red Lion
- Eggs benny pie at Drive Cafe
- El quacko pie at Red Duck Brewery & Distillery
- English porky pie at The George Hotel
- Feral pie at The Shared Table
- Fig, rosemary & duck pie at the Boatshed Restaurant
- Fish pie at Eleanora
- Galbi-jjim & bone marrow pie at Roy Hammond
- Goat barbacoa pie at Hop Temple
- Gold digger pie at Beechworth Bakery Ballarat
- Lechon paksiw pie at Hotel Canberra's Stables Cafe & Bar
- Lion's mane osso buco pie at Cornerstone Cafe
- Mrs Stewart's classic beef & red wine jus pie at Dyers Steak Stable
- Pie-bo at Saigon Allee
- Pollo enchilada pie at 321 Cafe Learmonth
- Pork, mushroom & vermouth pie at Nolans
- Prawn & scallop pie at Aussie Oggie Pasty Company
- Provincial pork pie at Cafe at Provincial Ballarat
- Smoked brisket bourguignon pie at Hideaway
- Smoked Waubra Prime lamb pie at Grainery Lane
- Tram Car pulled beef pie at Emma's Bakery
- Trout, sorrel and yabby pot pie at Tuki
- Whiskey & stout slow-braised beef pie at Sovereign Hill's Hope Bakery
Sweet Pies
- Apple sty pie at Mondegreen Cafe
- Limoncello meringue pie at Kilderkin Distillery
- Mrs Browne Bakes' raspberry goldfields cookie pie at Naomi & i
- Peach & Portuguese custard pie at Lydiard General
- Queso-mango cremoso pie at Amaro at Mercure Ballarat
