Australia’s most divisive meat pie trend just won a major national award
A controversial creation has snagged one of Australia’s top culinary honours.
Baked by Victoria’s Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies in Ocean Grove, a bold Roo Rendang − a gamey kangaroo meat in a rich, aromatic curry sauce − took home Best Gourmet Pie at The Official Great Aussie Pie Competition 2026.
The winning creation – a bold Roo Rendang – took home Best Gourmet Pie. Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies
The Roo Rendang earned high praise from competition ambassador Shaun Pyne, creator of Pyneys Pie Review, who declared the innovative entry a “very worthy winner.”
“I got to try that, it was really nice,” he told nine.com.au.
The pie picked up two gongs winning best Gourmet Pie and favourite Game Pie. Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies
This wasn’t even the most unusual flavour that landed on the judge’s plates this year.
“The butchers had their own category this year which was really good. One sausage roll that one was a Bánh mì sausage roll and it was phenomenal. It was like a proper Bánh mì but better,” Pyney said.
“There was a pie with green ants. You could see the green ants on top of the pie. That was a very unusual combination. There were a lot of brisket pies, cheese, jalapeño, and a sausage roll with onion rings on to of it.”
Nathan Williams from Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies created this year’s winning Roo Rendang pie. He and wife Kristy own the bakery chain with in-laws Stacey Lincoln and her husband Todd.
The bakery business – which began with one location in Ocean Grove and has grown to include six stores in total – took out a total of five categories at this year’s awards, including Best Gourmet Pie for its Roo Rendang, Gourmet Potato Top Pie, Gourmet Slow Cooked BBQ Pie, Gourmet Seafood Pie and Gourmet Game Pie.
Nathan Williams from Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies created this year’s winning Roo Rendang pie. Pyneys Pie Review
“I had a rendang recipe that I thought was great. We’ve had a lot of success with Asian flavours over the last few years,” Nathan told nine.com.au. “And there’s a game category, so I thought it would go great.”
His kangaroo creation was competing against other popular game meats including goat, crocodile, and venison.
Winning for the best Gourmet Pie as well as the best Gourmet Game Pie is a nod to the growing popularity of game meat pies, with game meat adding a unique and intense flavour, if cooked right.
“It definitely has its own unique flavour, it’s a bit divisive though,” he said. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. There’s plenty of people who have come through the doors in the last few days have been offered one, and they’ve said, ‘No way!’ There’s also a lot of people who come in and ask for it specifically.”
Kangaroo meat is “very low fat” so needs to be cooked slowly, he explained.
‘You could see the green ants on top of the pie. That was a very unusual combination.’ Pyneys Pie Review
Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies won five categories in total this year. Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies
“You really want to cook it for a good hour, hour and a half,” he said. “And stay away from fillet. That’s not really going to work. I used tail and leg meat. But you’ve got to be careful because you want it to be really tender. Roo becomes tough really quickly.”
Rendang is a Malaysian curry. Nathan begins with a paste, and adds in lemongrass, cinnamon, tamarind, chilli, and coconut milk.
This year’s awards received a record number of entries. Pyneys Pie Review
“It was something we only created simply for the pie competition, which is great. That’s what pie competitions are great for, being able to try out some really creative ideas and get feedback from the judges.”
“Game pies have definitely become more popular,” he said. “I think people are just more inclined to try new things. Once they try game meat and its unique flavour, they are more willing to try it again.”
Rolling Pin Cakes & Pies’ best-selling pie remains to be the Plain Beef Pie, followed by Chunky Beef, Roo Rendang, Bacon and Cheese, and Bacon Mushroom.
And while Nathan does plan to enter next year’s competition, he hasn’t started thinking about recipes just yet.
The Great Aussie Pie Competition runs each year, alternating between Melbourne and Sydney. In 2027 it will be in Sydney and while Pyney and his fellow judges are planning to take a break from pie testing for the next few weeks at least, they are primed and ready to check out the amazing creations that will be entered in 12 months time.
The event has grown in popularity over the years and this year received so many entries judges had to cut submissions off early.
“So it was full to the brim this year, which is great for the industry,” he said. “You’ve got pies coming from all over Australia from all walks of life, from butchers to bakers to cafés.
‘You’ve got pies coming from all over Australia from all walks of life.’ Pyneys Pie Review
“It was a busy comp, but the judges did a wonderful job. One judge did plain pies all week. I reckon he judged over 220 plain pies, at least one or two bites, and then you’ve got people walking up as well going, ‘Oh, try this!’”
And Pyney was pleased to see many of the small local bakeries he has visited for his over the years enter this year’s competition.
“I’m really happy to be able to get out to these areas and encourage them to put their entries in, and then these entries are winning! It’s awesome.”
