Bluff bakery makes best pie 'hands down'
BY AMY MILNE
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Bluff may be the known as the seafood capital of the world but it also has a growing reputation for its pies.
The Southland Times asked our readers where the place to get the best pies was in Southland, following a tourism marketing pitch by Travel publisher Jasons.
Nineteen readers emailed their responses in and almost half of them said Stella's Bakery in Bluff was the best place to get a pie fix – with two of the bakery's speciality pies, oyster and chicken curry, highlighted among the top flavours.
Lynley Taylor has been baking pies at Stella's for a decade and has perfected her recipes with "secret ingredients" and a love of cooking.
Mrs Taylor baked traditional favourites like mince and bacon and egg, as well as speciality pies such as wild venison, oyster during the oyster season, and minted lamb.
Everything was made on site, including the pastry, and ingredients were sourced locally as much as possible, she said.
"We have a lot of loyal local customers and tourists who come back, especially those who try a pie before getting on the ferry to Stewart Island and then come and buy more when they return to Bluff."
The oyster pie was a relatively new addition. It had emerged after Mrs Taylor and bakery owner Jean Jablonski invented them for the annual Bluff Oyster festival two years ago.
"It took us six attempts to find the right recipe," Mrs Taylor said.
But it has been a winner.
In the first year of having a stand at the festival in 2008 they sold 500 of the pies, and last year they sold 800.
This year they were planning to try to sell almost double that, she said.
Jean said she saw a niche in the market for an oyster pie.
"I'm thinking of actually entering them in a national competition because I don't think anybody (else) makes them ... When you bite into my oyster pie ... it's like you're gulping down a mouthful, to me, of the Foveaux Strait.
"There's no smokin' guns in that pie – there's three full oysters in every pie, because we count them painstakingly."
Jasons New Zealand chief executive Matthew Mayne is on annual leave and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Aw yea, I forgot to mention that I was havin a beer with a Bluffy mate the other night and he was talking about your precious pies, reckoned they were sh!te, worthy or not, a fan of oysters or not, I won't be trying them
The article is about the results of a poll, & I believe they ain't worthy, just my opinion, so you don't care about it, whatever, who cares. There are about 100,000 people in Southland, if you think 19 votes constitutes a poll and justifies a conclusion, you're more of a fool than your comments make u look
Ah....now we have it...you haven't tried the pies at Stella's....which in case you didn't notice is what this article is about! Not the pies at BP...not the pies in Arrowtown etc. You're the one who's ridiculous. You don't deserve to try the pies at Stella's...you're not worthy.
Robert, no I haven't, I'm not into Oysters, so sue me, they ain't everyones cuppa tea. The fact of the matter is I never wrote anything against Bluff or Stella's damn pies, I was just using this facility to post a comment about a pie I like, cos that's what its for aye. Get a life yourself. The comments that had sparked from mine are ridiculous.
Have you tried the pie I'm talking about?? So, no the article didn't say all 19 readers were from Bluff, but whats the bet? And what's the bet you're one of 'em, and what's the bet you're part of the family!
I beg your pardon ApricotLamb, but I did read your comment....duh...we both know that Bluff's population is more than 38 people. But really, who made you the authority on how many comments constitute a proper poll? A question to you?....have you had the pies at Stella's? And another thing....I never said you were a NI...you just sound like one.
Read my comment, "Personally, I reckon...." My comments weren't against Bluff at all, FYI I'm a born & bred Southlander, just voicing my damn opinion, and that the Southland Times Poll can't be accurate with so little responses. Why would I mention Bakers Beyond in Spey St if I was from NI?? duh
ApricotLamb needs to get a life!!! Sounds like a typical North Island response to anything positive about the South Island. Southland Times didn't say all nineteen readers were from Bluff! Have you had the pies at Stella's ApricotLamb? Perhaps once you do you'll understand what all the raves are about....until then, a bit of modesty might suit you in regards to you opinions.
The Bluff Bakery pies have always been great! & the variety is just getting better & better! Yum! Oyster pies, excuse me if I say so, but oysters or lamb & apricot, Mmmm, seems a no brainer to me. Its ashame some people feel the need to knock Bluff for there many hidden talents.
19 responses isn't much of a result really is it? Its like half the population of Bluff! Personally, I reckon the Bakers' Beyond Lamb & Apricot is the best pie I've had in a long time, and the other ones there are pretty damn good too Those gourmet pies at BP are surprisingly tasty & Arrowtown bakery is an institution up those ways
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Stopped in for a pie recently while waiting for ferry to Stewart Island.I had the most amazing venison pie here! This was the best pie i had ever eaten in my 48 years .On the way home i was salivating on the ferry thinking about my venison pie when i arrived only to find that they dont open on Sundays.Would love to get some sent up to Auckland some how as i wont be down that away again