A couple of Kiwi bakers are putting a call out for the weirdest flavour combinations in a new challenge to raise money, as well as bragging rights as The Meanest Pie.
By Anya Fielding of RNZ
Wellington baker Joe Player came up with the competition for the "meanest pie" on the back of his own stage four cancer diagnosis – just after he opened his second shop, Salut.
"I found that in the time during the treatment, the Cancer Society just absolutely looked after me," Player said.
"They were just fantastic and they need more support, basically. And I'm in an opportunity and a position to offer that."
Player, together with Ashby Pies in Auckland, will run the challenge during September.
Bakers must pick up to nine ingredients from the 15 decided on by the organisers: leek, bacon, miso, garlic, potato, feta, mustard, watercress, blackberry, onion, cheese, sesame, ginger, pork and tomato (plus salt and pepper seasoning is allowed).
"There’s just so many possibilities," Player said
"We've left it open so you can do vegetarian as well."
The "weirder" the better, one of his own favourites was "banana satay with candied almond".
Bakers can pitch their pies via the page on the Cancer Society New Zealand.
Kiwis pick their favourite pie via the Mean Pie app – a pre-existing pie rating app redesigned by its founder, Matt Carkeek, for this challenge. $1 from each pastry sold goes to the Cancer Society. Mean Pies app won’t take a cut, Carkeek said.
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