The beginning of August brought with it the start of the 2023 Ballarat’s Best Pie month. For the entire month of August, cafes, bakeries, pubs, and more across Ballarat will be selling limited edition creations as part of Ballarat’s Best Pie Competition. 20 pies across 19 different venues were entered into the Competition, which announced its ultimate Best Pie winner on August 5.

In an event hosted by culinary journalist Sofia Levin at Ballarat restaurant Hop Temple, all of the entries into the competition were judged by Tim Bone (MasterChef Australia), Jack van der Heyden (radio host), Kate Davis (Plate Up Ballarat Festival Director), and Richard Cornish (food writer).

The ultimate winner of the whole competition was the babbi pongteh pie by Flying Chillies, with Eclectic Tastes Café & Pantry taking out second place with their ultimate egg and bacon pie, and Black Cat Truffles coming in third place for their chicken truffle pie.

Flying Chillies is owned by Intercultural Ballarat Ambassador Lilly Wright and showcases Malaysian–Indonesian food.

“I can’t believe it, I am a winner! Overall [the] babi pongteh pie (braised pork belly and fermented soybeans) [won] the judges’ heart[s].

“Thank you everyone for making this happen… Thank you for your encouragement and help,” Lilly wrote in a post on social media.

The business came away from the event with a double win—also taking out the title of Best Savoury Pie in the competition.

The title of Best Sweet Pie was won by Kilderkin Distillery for their Grandma Harriet’s bramble and apple pie, while the title of Best Bakery Pie was taken out by 1816 Bakehouse for their smoked brisket and American cheddar pie.

All pie entries will be available across Ballarat until the end of August, when their limited-edition runs will end.

Image: Flying Chillies’ winning babi pongteh pie