Patrick Lam of Gold Star Pat's Pies in Tauranga has won a staggering total of 52 pie awards since first entering the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards in 2003.

He took out the Supreme Pie Award in 2003 and 2004, then repeated this in 2009 and 2010! Apart from winning his four supreme pie awards, Pat's Pies has since won 11 gold; 15 silver; 12 bronze and 10 high commended.

Patrick Lam and his potato top pie that was entered in last year's awards. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

This makes Gold Star Pat's Pies the highest pie award winner in the country!

Cambodian born, Patrick, with his wife, two sons and daughter, began baking in 1997 in an Auckland lunch bar then moved to Rotorua to own his own bakery. He's since moved to Bethlehem, Tauranga, obviously perfecting his craft over time.

A real family affair, his wife and children help out after school and during the weekends.

Pat's cooking is influenced by his culture as well as what he has picked up by living in Australia and New Zealand.

His pie flavours are varied and made with high quality ingredients. He comes up with them all, such as sweet lamb curry and his 2015 bronze winning gourmet fruit pie, Contreau Pear & Apple Cherry.

He now sells 28 different pie flavours in his bakery, the majority are his winning pies, and he's running out of room to house them all.

Since winning his 52 pie awards his business has never looked back with sales increasing by 500 per cent with each win.

He normally sells 200 pies per day and this increases to 1200 per day for 5 weeks after winning each award.

This amount of pies means working 18 hour days, seven days a week, but he's happy to do it.

It was a big YES when asked if he will be entering again this year, although he doesn't have any idea yet what he will be entering, 'something a little different, as I need to win the Supreme Pie Award again”.

'That ‘Golden Phone Call' is so important to the whole baking industry – no one is allowed to touch the phone the day after the judging as we all wait for the call to say we should attend the Awards evening,” says Patrick.

Entries are now open for the 20^th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards and close June 23.

Judging day is July 21 and winners will be announced July 26.