For the second consecutive year, a South Australian bakery has claimed the title of Australia’s best sausage roll. Banana Boogie Bakery in Belair secured the award at the Baking Association of Australia’s (BAA) South Australian Baking Show held on Saturday.
Jason Spencer, the owner of Banana Boogie Bakery, expressed confidence in their chances of winning again, having triumphed in the inaugural competition the previous year. The competition was tight, with Banana Boogie edging out its nearest competitor by just one point. Spencer attributed the close result to changes in their recipe based on feedback from the previous year.
“We tried making the pastry a bit thinner based on last year’s comments, but the judges suggested we shouldn’t have,” Spencer told 7NEWS.com.au. “So, we’ll revert to our original method.”
The bakery received significant praise for the quality of its pastry. “The head judge said our pastry was impeccable and was what secured our victory this year,” Spencer noted.
BAA executive officer Tony Smith highlighted the sausage roll’s balanced flavor, noting that its meat filling was smooth, not dry, and had a neutral taste that wasn’t overpowered by salt or onion.
Forty-nine bakeries from across the country entered a total of 274 sausage rolls for judging. Rays Patisserie in Carseldane, Queensland, took second place for its sausage roll.
In addition to the sausage roll accolade, Banana Boogie Bakery also won awards for its chocolate doughnuts, steak pie, light rye bread, and vanilla slice. Their vanilla slice notably bested the reigning champion from Victoria’s North End Bakehouse, which had won the annual Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph.
Earlier this year, Banana Boogie Bakery also claimed the BAA’s Australia’s best vanilla slice competition. Spencer expressed hope for further success at the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph set for August 17, saying, “We’re crossing our fingers that we can actually win the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph this year too.”