Pyney’s Pie Reviews star Shaun Pyne brings his pastry pilgrimage to SA

A well-known pastry pundit on a mission to find Australia’s most delicious meat pie has touched down in SA.

Reviewing the country’s diverse range of meat pies is fast becoming the perfect day job for crust crusader Shaun Pyne.

The pastry pundit has recently started working through South Australia’s plethora of bakeries – with a recent visit to St Peters Bakehouse.

“I’m hoping to find one (perfect score) in South Australia,” he said.

Mr Pyne and his wife decided to travel Australia after selling their finance business.

The couple were on the road in January 2020 when the backed-good gourmand had the bright idea to review the bakery staple.

“I just started having a few pies on that trip and went you know what, I’m going to start actually blogging and reviewing these pies,” the Queenslander said.

“It absolutely snow balled from there.

“We just wanted to travel and now the pie thing has slowly allowed for that to happen which is crazy.”

Shaun Pyne recently visited St Peters Bakehouse & Coffee Shop. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Despite still running a sports management business, Mr Pyne makes it his priority to travel and work through the nation’s bakeries.

“I’m very busy, but the pie thing – especially after we launched the website a month ago – that’s to me an essential travel map for the person that wants to travel,” he said.

The website, Pyney’s Pie Reviews, consists of a list of bakeries, travel maps, reviews and is also home to his merchandise — which ranges from pie workshirts to boardshorts.

But the pair, who travel with their two staffies, aren’t always busy reviewing pies.

Mr Pyne said he’s determined to find South Australia’s perfect pie. Image: Russell Millard Photography

“Some days it’s smashing out content, other days it’s basically just relaxing by the beach,” Mr Pyne said.

With a whopping 400 reviews done and dusted, Mr Pyne said he’s only ever given four perfect scores – Blackbutt Bakery in Queensland, Whittlesea Bakehouse in Victoria, Yamba Pie Shop in New South Wales and Cottage Bakery in Tasmania.

Mr Pyne said his reviewing system consists of five criteria – each worth 10 points.

“Value for money, meat ratio, flavour, pastry and temperature,” he said.

“Everything’s got to be perfect to be perfect.

“I think there’s one here in South Australia.”

Mr Pyne will be in the state until May this year.

The roving gastronomist – whose favourite flavour of pie is chunky pepper – said he keeps healthy by walking regularly and getting regular check-ups.