Ballarat’s Best Pie is back for round three in August 2025.
36 different pies from the region’s restaurants, cafes, bakeries and more will vie for top honours with a swathe of flavours and creations and something for all tastes.
Meanwhile, the best of the best have been crowned by a panel of pie connoisseurs including Tim Bone (Good Chef Bad Chef co-host) and food writer Richard Cornish.
The categories
- Ballarat's Best Pie 2025 (grand prize, second and third)
- Best Savoury Pie
- Best Sweet Pie
- Best Bakery Pie
- Brilliantly Unexpected Pie **new**
- Pie with Purpose **new**
- People's Choice Pie **new**
The judges
- Acclaimed Peruvian-born chef Alejandro Saravia
- Melbourne restaurant critic and presenter Kara Monssen
- MasterChef Australia semi-finalist and Good Chef Bad Chef co-host Tim Bone
- Esteemed food journalist Richard Cornish
- City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Taylor
The awards
Renowned cook, author and television presenter Julia Busutill Nishimura will be the master of ceremonies at the 2025 Ballarat’s Best Pie Awards at Itinerant Spirits on 2 August.
Each category winner will be awarded a one-off hand-painted pie dish crafted by Ballarat's ceramics queen Shelby Sherritt.
The People's Choice Pie will be determined by a public vote running from 1-31 August, with the winner announced in early September.
Vote and win!
Cast your vote for the People's Choice Pie for your chance to win a getaway escape valued at $1500.
Vote nowStart planning your pie-tinerary by downloading this year's map.
Photography by Chris McConville.