Itinerant Spirits has come out on top in the 2024 Ballarat’s Best Pie Competition, with its Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie crowned Grand Prize Winner in the annual culinary battle.
The sweet apple and vodka pie, which is served warm with a creamy pine nettle ice cream, also took out Best Sweet Pie.
The judging for the second edition of Ballarat’s Best Pie took place over the weekend, with culinary journalist and MasterChef Australia judge Sofia Levin hosting the award ceremony, and pie connoisseur Tim Bone (MasterChef Australia), food writer Richard Cornish and Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson making up the judging panel.
THE WINNERS
First place – Ballarat’s Best Pie Grand Prize Winner: Itinerant Spirits Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie
Second place – Ballarat’s Best Pie: 321 Cafe Learmonth Lamb Shank and Mustard Mash Potato Pie
Third place – Ballarat’s Best Pie: Flying Chillies Mum’s Curry Laska Pie
Best Sweet Pie: Itinerant Spirits Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie
Best Bakery Pie: 1816 Bakehouse Beef Filet Mignon Pie
Best Savoury Pie: 321 Cafe Learmonth Lamb Shank and Mustard Mash Potato Pie
Best Hero of Local Produce: Peasant Urban Shepherd Pie
Ballarat’s Best Pie takes place across the region for the entire month of August, with more than 28 pies available to delve into.
The full list of participating pies can be found at visitballarat.com.au
Quote attributable to Itinerant Spirits’ Sebastian Haintz:
“This win is really exciting for us! We’re obviously known for our drinks, but it’s really cool to be recognised now for the great food people can come and try.
What Konstantin [Putkin] does in the kitchen is amazing, and we’re really excited to hopefully see some new faces at Itinerant Spirits because of this.
We’d love people to come on down and enjoy the Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie with pine nettle ice cream.”