A small bakery in Hanmer Springs is turning heads, and opening wallets, with what may be New Zealand’s most expensive pie.
According to a report by Caron Copek of Stuff, priced at $50 each, the crayfish pie from PJ’s Pies has sparked widespread attention after a TikTok video showed a customer asking, “How much is it?”, before shop co-owner Kate Bratschi replies, “Yeah, $50 for a crayfish pie, you heard it right”.
The video also shows crayfish being prepared for the pies, with Bratschi explaining they are Ministry of Primary Industry approved and sourced from Kaikōura. While the price has raised eyebrows, Bratschi said customers often react with surprise. “Everyone holds their breath or exclaims, ‘What?,’” she told Stuff.
“Crayfish is an expensive commodity, and look, we don’t make anything out of it,” as quoted by Stuff.
PJ’s Pies prides itself on using premium North Canterbury ingredients and Swiss culinary heritage. Bratschi and her husband, Jim, both have experience working in five-star restaurants, while she is also a former chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The crayfish pies are described as rich and indulgent, featuring cray meat topped with triple-strained crayfish sauce. They also include “a whole bottle of cognac” along with white wine from the Waipara Valley and cream, which Bratschi said pairs with the mashed potato and leek topping on the pastry base, Caron Copek of Stuff has reported.
Despite the hefty price tag, demand has been strong. Bratschi said the pies do sell and, when asked how many had been sold recently, replied, “s...loads“, before apologising for her language.
The bakery first introduced the limited-edition pies during King’s Birthday weekend in 2024. “It was only meant to be for that weekend, and it just took off. It just went viral,” she said, as quoted by Stuff.
Because of food safety requirements, the pies are prepared in small batches. “Because it’s crustacean, we cannot have it in the hot cabinet as it is a cross-contamination risk. Therefore, we bake them separately,” Bratschi explained, Stuff has reported.
Customers can pre-order the pies, or wait about 45 minutes at the shop for one to be freshly baked. Some people are even travelling specifically for the experience. “One couple came up from Christchurch and bought two and they loved them so much they bought another four cold ones. So they both ate one each hot and then they took another four cold ones to their home,” as quoted by Stuff.
That purchase totalled $300, and Bratschi believes her bakery now holds a national record. “Oh, yes, I believe so,” she said when asked if it was the most expensive pie in the country, Stuff has quoted.
PJ’s Pies employs around 10 people, and Bratschi said she is proud of her team. “We’re only small, yeah, but our staff consists of people in their trades, so we have chefs, we have bakers, and, yeah, baristas for the shop,” Stuff has reported.
Ironically, the chef behind the viral delicacy has never tasted it herself. “I’m allergic,” she said, according to Stuff.