2024 🥧 Tour
Review no 20
Hayden’s Pies
(Ulladulla NSW)
With the town of Milton and the Heritage Bakery review done and dusted it was time to visit one more bakery on this mini tour south coast tour. The next bakery on the list was Hayden’s Pies at Ulladulla. If I had a dollar for everytime someone messaged me over the last 4 years and suggested I’d visit this place, I’d be a wealthy man. This visit was a long time in the making and I was keen to meet owner Hayden the man behind the 🥧’s.
Hayden’s 🥧 is located at 2/166 Princess Hwy Ulladulla and is open 7 days a week between 6am and 5pm. Upon my arrival I met owner Hayden who opened the joint 21 years ago. A chef my professional Hayden has turned this small 🥧 shop into a 🥧 pumping juggernaut that now employs over 36 staff. The best part of this story is not one of his staff are qualified bakers, just great people with a passion for food having a crack and all receiving there training on site.
This place gets unbelievably busy with lines often qued up around the corner and quite rightfully so. The first thing that caught my eye was the massive variety of 🥧’s on offer. The 🥧 list is quite extensive with every possible flavour on offer. From cheeseburgers to swordfish this place has it all and after looking at multiple 🥧 boards I knew choosing a 🥧 to review was going to be extremely difficult.
After sampling many of Hayden’s creations I ended up choosing the “Venison” flavoured 🥧 to review. I’ve only reviewed one of these bad boys before and this one looked and smelt fantastic.
🥧 THE REVIEW 🥧
1. Value for Money – $7.90 for this particular flavoured game product represented sensational value. Game meat of any kind is very expensive particularly in today’s environment, also the 🥧 was a healthy size and square too which was a change 10/10
2. Meat Ratio – I’d say about 95% full, the top had sunken a fraction, so maybe a little more fill could have been squeezed in. I’m probably nit picking here, but overall excellent meat ratio in this 🥧. 9.5/10
3. Flavour – Absolutely sensational. Huge chunks of perfectly cooked venison, red wine, garlic and field roasted mushrooms. The flavour in this 🥧 got better and better as the bites went on. The meat melted in your mouth and the red wine gravy mix was awesome. The staff nailed this flavour, loved every bite and didn’t want it to end. 10/10
4. Pastry – Overall very good. Color, shape and stability were all first class. The top bake had a little bit of shrinkage in one corner but nothing major, the top needed a little puff as well. On the bake department the bottom bake and thickness was perfect while to top was ever so slightly underbaked and a smidge thick. 8.5/10
5. Serving Temperature – Perfect temp 10/10
Overall Rating
🥧🥧 48/50 🥧🥧
This was a quality product from a quality 🥧 shop. I smacked six 🥧’s in total during my visit and all were outstanding. The venison one I reviewed was near perfect with only a few minor points to work on. The price point was on song, but it was the flavour that was easily my favourite. I loved every bite and the combination of ingredients was a genious idea. Great job guys !!!!
Hayden is a absolute legend and I cannot thank him enough for his time and hospitality. His 21 year 🥧 journey is amazing and it’s no surprise this place is considered one of 🇦🇺’s must stop in 🥧 joints. It took me over 3 years to get to this place and I’m certain it won’t take me 3 years to head back. 1000% add this place to your travel plans !!!
My time in this particular part of the south coast was awesome. There is so much to see, do and explore and if you love your golf there are a few cracking courses around worth playing. I stayed at the Ulldulla Beachside Holiday Park which was great. Nothing fancy but right on the beach and staff were great.
