Baker set to deliver the goods
A SELF-TAUGHT Far North pie maker is set to test her creations against the best in the country at a prestigious baking competition in Sydney.
Tully Pies owner Carole Dugue has run the bakery for over nine years and will use this experience to compete in the Great Aussie Pie Competition.
Ms Dugue considers herself more of a pastry chef but has since gained a passion for pies.
“The main reason why I do these competitions is to see how I stack up with other bakeries around Australia,” she said.
“I am self taught so I do these so I can learn and grow. I like the criticism.”
She has entered competitions in the past and come out with a few silver and bronze medals.
“Considering that I am a self-taught baker, I am really chuffed.
“It means I have been able to grow and teach myself how
to do things differently,” she said.
The self-taught pie maker has built her business to include 50 different varieties after initially starting with only six. Some of the more unusual
creations she is entering this year includes a crocodile pie, Mongolian buffalo, kangaroo pie with native herbs and Moroccan lamb.
Ms Dugue has her eyes set on the prize but she also has
managed a reward already with a recent expansion of her business.
“We had a really tiny 3 sq m shopfront for the last nine years so we were able to expand to the shop next door,” she said.
“We can (now) fully display all the pies, sweet selections and French pastries.
“Everything we make is on display and people can see them properly. We also have a little dining area.”
Originally from France, Ms Dugue, admits to the traditional Gaullic influence on her business.
“Its quite a French-style bakery. It has that warm feel to it which I think everyone is enjoying,” she said.
Without formal pie-making qualifications, Ms Dugue says she has thoroughly enjoyed the creativity involved in selflearning the art of pie making and taken pleasure in expanding the range the bakery offers.
“Since having the pie shop I have kind of explored, I like to make the pie more interesting.”
Tully Pies will be representing the Far North at the Sydney competition between November 24-26.