The Burleigh Gourmet Pies — Attraction in South Island

Spent the night in Blenheim so I could get up and catch the Interislander to the North Island the next day. Burleigh Gourmet Pies seems to rate well so headed in for breakfast. I selected the Mince, Jalapeno and Cheese and the Steak and Blue Cheese. First up the Mince JC. The size was the smallest pie so far in New Zealand at just 204 grams but the price at $NZ7.00 is not too bad. Pastry was good and I am finding that this normal in New Zealand. The bakeries certainly know how to create great pie pastry. This pie had lots of jalapenos nestled on the top of the mince but there was no visible sign of cheese. Could not taste any either. Regardless, the pie was very nice and I enjoyed it a lot. A solid 8/10 pie. Next up the Steak and Blue Cheese. The next smallest pie in New Zealand so far at 211 grams, also $NZ7.00. One benefit of a smaller pie is that I don’t feel so guilty eating two. Again, the pastry was on point. The filling was very good. The steak pieces could have been a bit bigger but I am being a bit fussy now. The blue cheese quantity was about right and the overall flavour was great. This was 8.8/10 pie. I do like blue cheese though so not everyone would...

A vineyard owner friend recommended this to me and so we stopped for lunch as soon as we arrived in Blenheim on a month-long NZ trip. We were just blown away by the pies.

My partner isn't really a pie eater, but she gobbled down her pork belly pie like there was no tomorrow. I rarely eat pies too as I am invariably disappointed, but my steak and French blue cheese pie was the best I can ever remember eating. The pies are sheer craftsmanship -- I mean, how do they get the pastry so delectably thin without the pie falling apart in your hand? And the quality and flavour of the filling is exquisite. I followed up with an Afghan biscuit, a NZ speciality that I'd never tried before, and loved. This prompted a discussion with one of the delightful staff about where the biscuit got its name from. She had no idea, and when I checked on line later it appears that no-one really seems to know.

How I wish The Burleigh had a branch near...

I am just lining up with everyone else's opinion (and my wife's) that it is the best pies they have ever tasted anywhere in the world! No doubt about it. All pies cost $8.50. We had the Jamaican Lamb curry and the Steak, mushroom and truffle cheese pies. The crust is flaky and just the right thickness keeping all the ingredients in perfectly.

The first mouthful and the crunchy sensation is suddenly overcome but a burst of flavour of the filling, both of which I have never encountered.... sort of the third kind (other worldly if you get what I mean). The lamb and the beef were succently and melts in the mouth.

The only thing is that the shop is not open on Sunday. We would have loved to purchase some frozen pies to take it back home on Sunday with our flight but where we are staying do not have a freezer!

The next time we return, it will be pies for breakfast,...