Paradise Bakehouse has rounded out a great few years by taking home the top prize at this year’s Official Great Aussie Pie Competition. Baking Business caught up with owners Lam and Huyen to hear about their bakery journey.

Paradise Bakehouse won the top title at the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition earlier this year. How was it to take home the top prize?

It was an emotional and incredibly proud moment for us. Winning “Best Plain Meat Pie in Australia” is a dream for every baker. For us, it wasn’t just a trophy — it was recognition of years of hard work, long nights, early mornings, and a deep love for pastry. For a small bakery in Bundaberg to be recognised nationally is a huge honour. We feel grateful to our community and our team for helping us reach this milestone.

What was preparation like for the competition?

It was detailed, intense, and very rewarding. We refined our pastry and fillings over and over, tested batches daily, and made sure every pie was consistent. Our goal was perfection — not just flavour, but texture, balance, bake quality, and presentation. Every pie was crafted with precision and pride.

You took over Paradise Bakehouse in 2021, and have quickly made a name for your pies. Why did you decide to focus on elevating the pie range?

Australia has a beautiful pie culture, and we wanted to honour that tradition while lifting it to the next level. When we built up Paradise Bakehouse, we saw potential — a chance to show that pies can be both classic and creative. We focus on slow-cooked fillings, premium ingredients, and traditional pastry craft. For us, pies represent comfort, family, and real Australian food — and we wanted to make pies that locals could be truly proud of.

What’s your personal favourite pie to make? And to eat?

Lam: I love working with traditional flavours. The original Beef Pie is my favourite to make — there’s something special about perfecting a true classic. I also really enjoy making our Lamb & Rosemary pie. To eat, those two are my favourites.
Huyen: I’m a seafood lover, so I always get excited developing seafood‑inspired flavours. But I also absolutely love the classics — a good Beef Pie or a traditional Mince Pie always makes me happy. Simple, nostalgic, and full of comfort.

The award-winning pies

Where do you get your inspiration from when it comes to your pie flavours?

Our inspiration comes from travel, family meals, and the diversity of Australian food culture. We blend our Vietnamese-Australian roots with Australian classics, so sometimes you’ll see Asian-inspired flavours and sometimes traditional country pies. We also listen to our customers — their ideas and cravings guide us too.

Without giving away any secrets, what are the vital components of creating award‑winning pies?

Quality ingredients, patience, and precision. Great pastry takes time and skill, and fillings must be rich, balanced, and slow‑cooked for depth of flavour. Flaky pastry with the right crisp and melt. A balance of seasoning so the flavours linger, not overpower. Consistency is key — every pie must be as perfect as the last.

On a personal note, where did you both begin your baking careers? What drew you to the industry?

Lam began baking years ago and fell in love with pastry work — the precision, creativity, and craftsmanship behind it. I, Huyen, came from hospitality background while studying health science and have always loved people, food, and building community spaces. Together, we combined our skills — Lam in baking and product excellence, and me in customer experience, operations, and brand building. We love feeding people, we love community, and we love hard work.

The Paradise Bakehouse team

What does 2026 hold for you? And the next few years?

We are focused on growth and innovation. We’re working toward opening a dedicated production facility, expanding our stores, and continuing to raise the standard of handcrafted pies.

We want to keep innovating flavours, training the next generation of bakers, and building a brand that represents quality, heart, and Australian pride. We want to keep putting Bundaberg on the culinary map and share our flavours with more Australians.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We would like to say thank you — to our Paradise team, our valued customers, and our community. Paradise Bakehouse is a family business, and Bundaberg has embraced us like family. Winning awards is amazing — but seeing familiar faces walk in every morning, that’s what keeps us going. Our mission is to bring people together through good food, and to show that with passion, persistence, and heart, dreams can grow from anywhere — even a small bakery by the beach in regional Queensland.