He's the king of the Kiwi pie.

Pat Lam, who has bakeries in Papamoa and Bethlehem, last night scooped the award for New Zealand's best pie.

It was the fourth year he had won the big award and this time it was for a bacon and egg creation.

Mr Lam, of Gold Star Patrick's Pies Bakery, also won a silver award in the gourmet fruit section and a bronze in gourmet meat.

But before he left for Auckland Mr Lam was not feeling confident about taking out the supreme title for the fourth time as there were "lots of good bakers who know what they're doing".

He was right - a record 4336 pies were entered in this year's competition.

Chief judge Dennis Kirkpatrick said Mr Lam's clinching of the title again was "exceptional".

"A completely different configuration of judges from other years and he does it again. Testimony to an outstanding baker," Mr Kirkpatrick said.

Last year Mr Lam won the supreme award with his creamy bacon, mushroom and cheese pie.

Last night also proved to be a successful evening for the wider Lam family.

Mr Lam's brother Lam Ho from Paetiki Bakery in Taupo won gold in two categories.

Mr Lam's other brother Mark from Owhata Lam Pie Bakery in Rotorua won bronze in the mince and cheese category, while Mr Lam's sister-in-law, Fiona Duong of Koutu Bakery in Rotorua took gold in mince and gravy and bronze in chicken and vegetable.

Other Bay of Plenty bakeries that were recognised at the pie awards:

Chhai Heng Chrin from Merivale Lunch Bar & Bakery: Bronze award in the steak (diced), vegetables and gravy category, bronze award in the seafood category with his surimi, prawn, mussel and scallops with white sauce pie.

Ernie and Therese Bailey from Banana Pepper: Bronze award for their spinach, feta with sweet chilli sauce pie in the vegetarian section.

Tan Kiet Trang from Cherrywood Cafe: Highly commended in vegetarian section with a carrot, kumara, potato, peas, pumpkin, baby corn and capsicum pie.

Murray Swetman of Gourmet Foods Ltd: Gold award in the commercial/wholesale category.

Genevieve Helliwell
Bay of Plenty Times
28th July 2010