It took three years to perfect, but Classique Gourmet in Caringbah can now boast the best gluten-free pie in Australia.
Classique Gourmet’s vegetable pie has won the best gluten-free pie award at the Great Aussie Pie Competition.
Classique Gourmet owner Martin Edwards said he was rapt to take out the top prize in the category.
“A lot of people have had a crack at this so we are so pleased that we have a product that tastes like a normal pie,” he said. “I think the judges liked it mostly because of the flavour – the flavour was a little bit special.”
He said it was a real challenge creating a tasty, gluten-free pie especially getting the pastry right.
“I have put a lot of effort into this one. It has been perfected over about three years and I have gradually improved it and improved it,” he said. “To get the combination right has taken a while.”
The vegetable pie features about a dozen different veggies including pumpkin, broccoli and cauliflower.
He said he entered four pies into the 2017 competition all in the gluten-free category. His four pies included an ordinary mince pie, chicken pie, apple pie and vegetable pie which were all awarded a gold medal.
Mr Edwards said he decided to branch into gluten-free pies for two reasons.
“I’ve been in the pie and bakery industry all my life and it was a bit of a challenge, there is that side of it. And I think there is a market for it as well.”
The 2017 Great Aussie Pie Competition coincided with the Fine Food Australia exhibition in Sydney earlier this month.
Edwards and his wife Maria started Classique Gourmet 12 years ago.
- The Classique Gourmet factory is based at Woodfield Boulevard while its pies and other products are sold in its shop, Dijon Foods, on Resolution Dr in Caringbah.