Come The Pies

The finals are upon us again and nothing goes together like footy and the humble pie. But not all pies are made equal, and the game of the year deserves nothing but the upper crust. When the final whistle blows it's a given that some of us will need a meal to rival that sweet taste of victory, while the rest hunt something to drive away the bitter tang of defeat. Don't play patsy to subpar pastries - here are a few places to get a slice of baked gold when Mrs Mac's and Four'N Twenty just aren't kicking goals.         

Pure Pie

Local cutie-pies Holly and Michael Carthew are the brains behind Pure Pie, and their signature creations are absolutely mouth-watering. Savoury staples include the Chipotle Chilli Bean, Fresh Spinach & Feta and a Braised Beef, Guinness & Cheddar (slap a big dollop of the kasundi or the beetroot sauce on for an extra kick). They also they also stock Apple & Rhubarb for the sweet-tooth crowd. They're based in Port Melbourne but their tasty treats are stocked all over the city. They've also spread through local farmers' markets like an unstoppably delicious e-pie-demic - you can find Pure Pie at any of ten markets each month.  

Where: 383 Bay Street Port Melbourne

Ka Pies

Is there anything better than a simple, tried-and-true Beef Pie? The surprising answer is yes, the Thai Vegetable Curry at Ka Pies. This innovative pastry snagged the trophy at Australia’s Best Pie competition earlier this year, making it the first vegetarian oven oval to do so and the clear gustatory choice of champions. Co-owners Adrian Apswoude and Doug Meijer make their pies completely from scratch in the New Zealand style - using 100% puff pastry - and they’re not one-trick ponies. They bake a whole range of fluffy prize-winners including the Hangi: traditional Maori-style Hangi with smoked rolled pork, potato and Kumara.

Where: 250 Hampshire Road Sunshine

Babka

Named for the spongy Eastern European cake, Babka are famous for their borscht, blintzes, all day brekkies and freshly made bread. Basically you can safely close your eyes, take running jump at the menu and never miss the mark. But they wouldn't be on this list if they didn't take the flake in Melbourne's pie scene. The Lamb & Apricot in particular is a unique and unmissable experience, while the Beef, Red Wine & Mushroom and the Chicken & Veg are definitely something to be sniffed at. They also make Spinach, Cheese & Pine Nut for the piehard vegos out there.

Where: 358 Brunswick Street Fitzroy

Cooper's Handmade Pies

The list of goodies at Cooper's Handmade Pies is as long as Sandilands' pins. They're the pied pipers of the bakery game, drawing people slavishly through the doors of several distributors around town with their rich, award winning wares. Though you can safely take a punt at anything in their catalogue we can't go past the Wagyu Beef & Beer Pie. It has Jamieson Mountain Ale gravy and like all their pastries it's made entirely from ingredients sourced within a 100-kilometre radius of the bakery. Plus the crust is as thick as two short planks and as soft as [insert losing team here].

Where: 137/139 Belmore Street Yarrawonga