Tommy's Tummy here, and what an exciting day it's been!

From savoury treats to fine pastry and the beauty of a bee-sting pie, it has been a day of deliciousness that I can't wait to share with you.

As a student, I used to wander through the city streets looking for something to satisfy my belly. I searched through supermarkets, cafés, petrol stations, and the odd bakery dotted nearby.

I had forgotten about my student days until I was invited back to Bakers Beyond on Spey Street, Invercargill, to try two new flavours of pie they’ve recently introduced: Chicken and Leek pie and Steak, Cheese, and Red Onion pie.

I will definitely be going back for more, so let me tell you why!

Firstly, as always, the pastry!

The Chicken and Leek pie comes in a square case, which is one of the most frustrating shapes.

The sides tend to shrink in on the bottom paste and are thin on the high sides.

But not for the bakers at Bakers Beyond—the pastry holds firm and still melts gently on the palate.

The flaky top pastry has a beautiful, rich walnut colour.

Although the pastry is nicely puffed, it doesn’t make a mess as you might expect.

The texture is light, airy, and fatty—the good type of fatty that melts in your mouth without leaving a greasy feel behind.

Years have been spent perfecting their recipe for a consistent product.

Chicken and Leek Filling – this was a real treat, and I was not expecting to crave this pie more than once.

Just thinking about its creamy texture and smooth, delicate flavours makes me ready for a second pie today.

The chicken is tender to the bite, and the pie is full of generous chunks.

The leek is beautifully incorporated into the sauce, adding a sweet and delicate touch.

All of this combined led me on a journey of discovery for a new, delicious flavour that I hope will be readily available.

Steak, Cheese, and Red Onion – “This is a Southern man's pie,” says Olivia as we devour this pie while walking down the street.

She’s not wrong, but I’m not a Southern man, so let’s just say “this is a Kiwi man’s pie.”

Big chunks of meaty greatness in every bite are surrounded by a lake of flavourful gravy infused with peppercorns and a few other trade secrets—the kind of gravy you get when you ask for it on the side of a great steak meal from your favourite restaurant.

This pie is packed, and on top of the meaty filling is a generous helping of cheese that has beautifully melted to almost blend with the top of the gravy.

Amongst all that is the red onion, which hasn’t been cooked completely, leaving you with a tender crunch and a hint of sweetness. I’m not ready to let this one go; as I’m writing, I find myself planning another trip to the bakery tomorrow.

So, where do these pies sit on the Tommy's Tummy Scale?

I wasn’t expecting this… Texture, flavour, palatability, hold, and visual appeal all get a 10/10.

Bakers Beyond hits the mark perfectly and goes above and beyond on this Tommys Tummy Scale pie review..