Albany bakery’s potato top judged New Zealand’s best pie of 2025
The best pie in the country is officially a potato top.
Rosedale Bakery & Cafe, in the Auckland suburb of Albany, has been declared the winner of the 2025 Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards.
Created by bakery owner Samraksmey So, it is only the second potato top pie to take out the top prize in the history of the competition.
So’s creation isn’t a stock standard mince and mash medley. Instead it has both a potato top and potato middle - comprised of a swirled potato top with a core of fondant-style cooked potatoes finished in au gratin layers.
So developed the recipe after seeing a dish of French-style layered potatoes in a magazine, explaining “We take the time to fry the potatoes and then we put them on a tray with butter, garlic and rosemary and we bake them off. We cut them with a round cutter after baking and put them in the pie and bake again, and they look like a crispy outside.”
So told Herald NOW this morning the secret to a supreme pie is supreme ingredients saying whether it’s the mince inside to the flour used to make the casings, they “use everything that is good quality” when baking their perfect pastries.
Celebrity chef judge Nici Wickes said the potato pie was “a clear winner” during the blind tasting process last week.
“It surprised me because it’s one of the more usual categories and yet really innovative.”
So said he spent a year tweaking and perfecting the recipe after winning a highly commended in the potato top pie category last year and intends on creating something new to enter into the 2026 awards.
This isn’t the bakery’s first brush with glory, in 2023 they were awarded a silver award for their mince and cheese entry in the pie awards, and took home the prize for best sausage roll in the country.
2025 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Award Gold Winners
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Bacon & Egg: Sean Vo, Levain Artisan Bakery, Blockhouse Bay Auckland
Mince & Gravy: Sopheap Long, Euro Patisserie, Torbay, Auckland
Mince & Cheese: Michael Gray, Nada Bakery, Wellington
Potato Top: Samraksmey (Sam) So, Rosedale Bakery & Café, Albany, Auckland
Steak & Gravy: Sok Heang Nguon, Taste Bakery and Roast, Henderson, Auckland
Steak & Cheese: Sok Keo, Milldale Bakery, Wainui, Auckland
Chicken & Vegetable: Mengheng (Jason) Hay, Richoux Patisserie, Ellerslie, Auckland
Gourmet Meat: Buntha Meng, Wild Grain Bakery, Silverdale, Auckland
Vegetarian: Sopheap Long, Euro Patisserie, Torbay, Auckland
Café Boutique: Ellie Linton-Brown, Main Street Café, Huntly
Commercial/Wholesale: Dad’s Pies, Silverdale, Auckland.
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Have you seen Rowena?
Police are urgently appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
She was reported missing to Police on 22 October 2025, and was last seen on 14 August 2025. Rowena hasn’t been in contact with her children and her family are worried for her safety.
Police investigating her disappearance have identified her as being in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch in the recent months prior to her missing person report being made.
If you have seen Rowena, or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us immediately.
You can contact us via 105 either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” and referencing file number 251022/9026.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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17.5% Hmm, maybe?
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9.5% Yes!
Fatal house fire, New Lynn
Police enquiries underway after a person was located deceased following a house fire in New Lynn.
Emergency services were called to a house on Kohekohe Street in New Lynn at 1.23pm on 8 December.
Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, Waitematā CIB, says a scene guard was put in place at the property overnight.
“The cause of fire remains undetermined at this very early stage,” she says.
“A post-mortem examination is due to get underway this morning and results of this will need to be considered alongside our other enquiries underway.”
Police will be carrying out a scene examination at the house today, including working with fire investigators.
Anyone who might have information to assist enquiries can update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 251208/6378.
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