Best sausage roll in Canterbury revealed

Photo: Getty Images

Canterbury's top sausage roll has been chosen in the inaugural Bakels Sausage Roll Competition.

Michael's Bakery in Hilmorton topped the list of 37 entries from Canterbury and finished third overall out of 606 across New Zealand.

Michael Meaclem, who co-owns the business with his wife Wendy, said they are very happy and humbled by the award.

"It is a really good encouragement for our staff who work so hard.

"It has really lifted morale in what has been quite a tough time for businesses."

Michael's Bakery. Photo: michaels.co.nz

Meaclem said their sausage roll recipe was passed down to him from his grandmother.

"She told me that the recipe was passed to her from her own mother who had prepared it for a visit from the queen."

So what makes his recipe so special? He said it comes down to a few things.

"It's got nice fresh herbs, quality meat and a few secret ingredients I won't share.

"The butter pastry, which is quite expensive to make, is also very good."

Michael's Bakery has been in business for 34 years and has three staff as well as the Meaclems.

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Two other Canterbury businesses finished in New Zealand's top 10.

Percival Street Bakery in Rangiora was seventh and Burwood Bakery was eighth.

Baking superstar Patrick Lam won the competition.

Anyone who has ever visited Goldstar Patrick's Pies will have found the walls of his Tauranga and Rotorua bakeries lined with certificates and seven Bakels Supreme Pie Awards trophies.

Lam is New Zealand's most awarded baker and today, much to his surprise a new, shiny trophy will join the display and proclaim him the best sausage roll baker in the country.

Lam, who owns three bakeries in Tauranga, Bethlehem and Rotorua, has won the top award at Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards seven times.

The judging took place in Auckland yesterday with 606 bakeries from across New Zealand entered and a mountain of sausage rolls for the judges to work their way through in the blind judging process.