Days after Stirling Village fire, Stockpot pies named on delicious. 100 Best of the Best list

A popular bakery closed down by the Woolies fire in Stirling has been listed on the 2023 delicious. 100 best eats and treats for its amazing pies – here’s how you can still buy them.

It has been a week of mixed emotions for the team behind Stockpot.

The successful Adelaide Hills food business was based in the Stirling Village shopping centre devastated by a fire in the Woolworths supermarket on Sunday afternoon.

The damage from water and smoke not only affected its outlet to the public but also a large production kitchen filled with equipment. Fortunately, the shop was closed at the time but, like many tenants in the precinct, it faced an uncertain future.

By the following, day, however, plans were underway to move across the road and to share the kitchen of its sister venue, the Stirling Hotel.

On Thursday, production started again, albeit with a smaller-than-normal range of the ready-made meals that are the main part of the business

Then, on Friday, the pies from Stockpot were included among South Australia’s best eats and treats in the new-look delicious 100.

“With all that we’ve been through, and the uncertainty of when Stockpot was going to get back on its feet, and trading as an outlet again, it was great news,” says operations manager Cameron Frost.

Stockpot chef Gypsy Smith with pies he is now baking in a new pop-up bakery. Picture: Dean Martin

“It has definitely put a spring in the whole team’s step and it shows us what we have been doing has been well received and the passion we put into the place has been acknowledged.”

The new arrangement with the Stirling Hotel takes Stockpot back to the beginning, when it started as a way to keep staff employed during the Covid pandemic.

The heat-and-eat meals such as curries, pastas and pies proved so popular with the local community that the business became a separate entity and moved to the Stirling Village centre last year.

On Sunday, the shop was closed and kitchen staff had finished a few hours before news of the fire came through.

“At first we didn’t know whereabouts in the mall the fire had started and I was worried it might have been us that caused it,” Frost says.

Cameron Frost and chef Gypsy Smith. Picture: Dean Martin

Stockpot pies. Picture: Supplied

In subsequent conversations with the CFS and others, the extent of the damage became clearer and it looks unlikely that much, if any, of the equipment can be salvaged.

In the short term, Stockpot is fortunate to have somewhere to go to keep the brand going.

A core range of products is now being sold through the Stirling Cellars & Patisserie. Fortunately, this includes some of the most popular pies such as the brisket braised in Little Bang stout and the lamb mince with rosemary and feta.

Stockpot pies have made it on to the delicious. 100 Best of the Best list.: Picture: Supplied

Frost says the secret of the pies is making both shortcrust and puff pastry in-house with quality butter, and the care put into the fillings.

He says Stockpot is looking to relocate to a new space with its own kitchen as soon as possible. “There’s going to be a silver lining, for sure,” he says.

Have your say in our reader vote

The new-look delicious. 100 is a collection of the best eats and treats from across South Australia, from perfect pies and pizzas to top tacos and burgers. See the five top choices in each of 20 categories here and in SA Weekend on October 21.

To vote, simply click the Vote button on your chosen venue in each category - your selection will then show as Picked. There is no need to submit your vote, your preferences have been recorded. Only one vote per person is recorded, so if you vote again it will simply update your preferences.

Voting opens October 20 and will close on November 3.

Overall winners from the voting phase will be announced on November 4.