Our Tart Shells Win Boutique New Product Champion Award
We Won!
We have the most exciting news to share - our Savoury Tart Shells have just been named Boutique New Product Champion at the 2026 Outstanding Food Producer Awards!
I honestly don't think I've ever written a blog post with shakier hands or a bigger smile. This one means so much.
The Outstanding Food Producer Awards are New Zealand's most respected independent celebration of food and drink producers, and 2026 marks their incredible 10th anniversary. Each year, an independent panel of food experts judges products from producers across the country, awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals based on quality, flavour, and innovation.
This year, the judging panel was led by internationally renowned chef Peter Gordon, which makes our win feel even more extraordinary. Our Savoury Tart Shells were awarded a Gold Medal, with the judges describing them as "great flavour", "an excellent product", and "a convenience product at its best."
The Product Behind the Award
Based in Auckland, Pauline's Pasticceria was built on a deep love of authentic Italian food and a commitment to doing things the traditional way. Our Savoury Tart Shells are made by hand in small batches using the best whole ingredients, with Parmigiano Reggiano as the star ingredient, giving that flavour you simply can't fake.
These shells were designed to solve a real problem: making beautiful, impressive savoury food accessible without the hours of pastry prep. Whether you're a home cook putting together something special for guests, a café building a standout cabinet range, or a caterer who needs consistent, reliable pastry every single time, our shells are for you.
What Makes Them Special
Getting pastry right took time to perfect. The texture has to be just right to get the flavour blend and a structure that holds its shape well when filled or rebaked. Key for us is using the best whole ingredients, sourced locally where possible.
Our tart shells bring that artisan quality into your kitchen, ready to fill with whatever your imagination conjures. Smoked salmon and crème fraîche. Caramelised onion and brie. Roasted capsicum and feta. The shells do the hard work; you get the glory.
As the judges put it: "a convenience product at its best." We'll take that.
Thank You
This award belongs to every single person who has supported Pauline's Pasticceria, our customers, our stockists, and everyone who has trusted us with their tables and their menus. Your support is the reason we keep crafting, keep experimenting, and keep trying to make something genuinely special.
A very special thank you to our wonderful local market customers, stallholders, family and friends, who have tasted, shared feedback, and been so generous with their thoughts as we've trialled new recipes over the years. Your honest input has genuinely shaped these tart shells, helping us refine them to deliver on both flavour and function. You were part of the process, and this award reflects that.
Our Savoury Tart Shells are available online through our web store, and wholesale buyers can find us on Upstock. If you haven't tried them yet, perhaps now is the perfect moment.
With so much gratitude and a very full heart,
Pauline and team 💕