Australia’s Best Pie Competition: Research’s Blue Pear Pantry wins bronze

A home kitchen operator in Research has notched up nine national awards in just two years — most recently at Australia’s Best Pie Competition — and she has never had any formal cookery training. So what is the secret behind her baking success?

Deb Graham who runs her own home kitchen, Blue Pear Pantry, only started making pies in October last year — it recently won a bronze medal at the Australia’s Best Pie Competition. Picture: George Salpigtidis

A humble home kitchen nestled among Research’s towering gum trees could be home to Melbourne’s best beef pie.

Deb Graham, who operates Blue Pear Pantry, recently won a bronze medal for her home-cooked chunky beef pie at the Australia’s Best Pie Competition.

Her creation was judged one of the best out of 345 other pies across the country.

And the accolade is her ninth in two years, despite the mother-of-two never having any formal training in cookery.

Ms Graham said she was “amazed” her cooking was being acknowledged by national industry experts.

“I only started making pies less than a year ago, so it’s very satisfying to see my hard work paying off so quickly,” she said.

Ms Graham sources her meat from a Research butcher.

She then braises the beef and slow cooks it for up to four or six hours, depending on the batch size.

There is carrot, gravy and a combination of herbs and spices, in addition to the beef, inside her award-winning pie.

“It’s nothing special, it’s just made with love,” she said.

“I used to only make sausage rolls and everyone loved them and would always ask me at markets if I sold pies — then last October I received a pie-maker as a gift and started experimenting with that.

“Now I can gladly say it’s been a success.”

Ms Graham worked at McDonalds in Geelong for 13 years, five in management, before establishing her own brand.

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She then moved to Melbourne where she worked in project management, before having children, and was later faced with the decision about what to do for work.

“I kept applying for jobs, but was unsuccessful, so I had to sit down and think,” Ms Graham said.

“I know I had a background in food, project management and admin, so I thought why not take the plunge and open up my own home kitchen.”

Blue Pear Pantry was established in 2015 — but she said running a home kitchen came with plenty of challenges.

“You can never compete with mass-produced products and this is what so many cafes and eateries sell,” Ms Graham said.

“But the look I see on people’s faces when they’re enjoying my food is the reason I get out of bed every morning and I won’t be stopping any time soon.”

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