NZ’s next gourmet pie announced – “Curry Me Home”

Frida Sumardjo with her winning pie, Curry Me Home

NEWS RELEASE: New Zealand’s next gourmet pie announced – “Curry Me Home” wins

After a tough - but tasty - judging day, New Zealand’s next gourmet pie has been announced. Three recipes underwent the taste-test with a panel of judges yesterday at the Wild Bean Cafe pie baker’s factory in Silverdale. But it was Frida Sumardjo, a Les Mills fitness trainer from the North Shore who trumped the national bake-off with her “Curry Me Home” gourmet pie taking first prize.

As the winner of Wild Bean Cafe’s “Create the pie you love” competition, Frida receives $5,000* and “Curry Me Home” will be added to the retailer’s gourmet pie range and sold nationwide through its stores, from next week. The winning pie features lamb, cheese, onion, tomato, tikka paste, chicken stock and coriander.

Frida is thrilled with her win and says she is looking forward to her pie being enjoyed by New Zealanders.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in, but I am really proud that “Curry Me Home” won. I felt quite overwhelmed when it was announced, knowing it will be sold around the country from next week. The name is really catchy, so I think people will be quite enticed by it!”

The inaugural “Create the pie you love” competition attracted 4,377 entries in four weeks, from which the three finalists were selected. Frank van Hattum, Retail Manager for Wild Bean Cafe and one of the judges, says the response was overwhelming.

Wild Bean Cafe is excited about adding “Curry Me Home” to their established gourmet pie range, he says.

Susie Robertson (left), Frida Sumardjo (middle), Bianca Wigley (right)

“This is the first time we’ve run the competition and, judging by the enthusiastic response, it clearly caught the imagination of New Zealanders. Our customers love it when we introduce new pie fillings to our range and we are absolutely delighted with “Curry Me Home” being our newest gourmet pie addition.”

The other two finalists were: Bianca Wigley a brand manager from Western Springs, Auckland for “The Three B” (lean beef, bacon and blue cheese); Susie Robertson a youth campaigner from Mt Victoria, Wellington for “Pumpkin Delight” (pumpkin, spinach, caramelized red onion, garlic, feta and salt and pepper).

People entered “Create the pie you love” by going to the Wild Bean Cafe website, choosing their preferred combination of ingredients and then giving their pie a name.

The winning pie will be in Wild Bean Cafe stores from this Monday, 6 September 2010.

Ends

www.wildbeancafe.co.nz

Editor’s notes:
• *The winner of “Create the pie you love” received $5,000 in Wild Bean Cafe gift cards and the two runners each received $2,000 in Wild Bean Cafe gift cards.
• Wild Bean Cafe pies are made from fresh, quality ingredients including 100% New Zealand chicken, beef and cheese.
• Pies are baked fresh on site every day, having been delivered chilled to stores direct from the pie factory.
• The “best loved” Wild Bean Cafe gourmet pie flavours are: Butter Chicken, Thai Chicken, followed closely by Steak & Cheese.
• Wild Bean Cafe has two premium pie ranges, classic pies and gourmet pies.

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