Mab knows how to make a perfect pie
Angkor Wat Bakery and Cafe Napier owner Mab Chheur is used to making award-winning pies — sometimes gold, other times bronze.
This year his bakery won three awards at the Bakel’s New Zealand Supreme Awards — the only Hawke’s Bay business to win an award. Angkor Wat’s entries won highly commended in the steak and gravy category for Kim Hour Chheur, bronze in gourmet meat and silver in vegetarian for Mab. His pies were among 5491 entries and were judged in the top 10.
Mab set up Angkor Wat in Waipukurau around 13 years ago. That store, along with those in Hastings, Taradale and Havelock North have since been sold. Mab puts success down to trying his best and taking a bit more time during the competition to get the recipe just right.
“The pastry has to be perfect and have a good filling. The weight of the pie also has to be perfect to qualify — it’s so hard sometimes,” Mab says. He drove his pies to Auckland where they had to sit for 24 hours before being judged.
“This is so the taste of the pie can be mixed.”
Mab says his customers are buying the same style pie as those entered into the competition — he sells between 200 and 300 a day.
“Winning brings a lot of customers.”