THANKS to the Ka Pies Bakehouse in Sunshine, Australia’s best pie is now a Kiwi.

Along with the pavlova and Phar Lap, pies are set to become the next hotly-contested item Australia and New Zealand both want to claim.

media_camera Ka Pies are made completely with puff pastry, which makes them very light and fluffy.

A NZ-style pie produced by Ka Pies has been officially crowned Australia’s Best Pie, beating 1700 pies from around the country to claim the title.

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The vegan Thai vegetable curry pie, which is a popular menu item at the Hampshire Rd bakery, won over the judges at the Baking Association of Australia’s annual competition — the baking industry’s only recognised national pie competition.

It is the first time in the competition’s five-year history that a meat-free pie has won.

Ka Pies’ co-owners Doug Meijer and Adrian Apswoude accepted a trophy in honour of their triumphant pie on Wednesday.

media_camera Bakehouse owners Adrian Aspwoude and Doug Meijer are flying pie-high after their win. Picture: Kris Reichl

Mr Apswoude said although their pies were made in Australia, they were proudly produced in the Kiwi-style with 100 per cent puff pastry, unlike traditional Aussie pies, which are a mixture of shortcrust on bottom and puff on top.

“As an Australian I guess it would seem kind of funny that a Kiwi-style pie has won this award,” he said.

He said Ka Pies used NZ flavours, taking a gourmet approach and using fresh, premium ingredients.

“We go to the extreme to get the ultimate flavour out of something that wouldn’t usually be considered for a pie — for example, we have beef curry rendang with everything made from scratch, we don’t use curry power, like many places do,” he said.

Baking Association of Australia executive officer Tony Smith said the judges selected the Ka Pies entry as the best in the country for its appearance, colour, aroma, taste and consistency.

He said all the gold-medal winning pies in the contest were judged against each other on the final day, for one to be crowned the ultimate pie in the land.

Mr Smith there was “a bit of controversy” after a vegetarian pie won, but the Ka Pies creation wowed the judges with its overall qualities.

“The competition is not about meat pies, it’s about all pies,” he said.

“It’s a matter of elimination, the judges kept coming back to the Thai vegetable curry pie, they couldn’t get over its flavour and the way it was put together.”

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Mr Apswoude said Ka Pies was “more than happy” to become part of the friendly rivalry between Aussies and New Zealanders.

“Crowded House and pavlova are claimed by Aussies due to them being so good,” he said.

“I’m not sure the Kiwis would appreciate it though — maybe we’ll give Phar Lap back in place of Ka Pies?”

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Mr Apswoude and Mr Meijer started Ka Pies during 2014, when Mr Apswoude was an IT manager with Victoria Police and Mr Meijer was a manager at Bunnings.

Mr Apswoude said at the time, he had never made a pie in his life but his faith in Kiwi-style pies made him want to give their business idea a fair-dinkum go.

Their venture paid off and Ka Pies now sells its gourmet pies across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

They are also looking to expand operations within the next 12 months to meet Australia-wide demand.

Details: kapies.com.au, facebook.com/kapiesaustralia