Darren Jarrett, owner of Ashby cafe in St Heliers, Auckland Photo: @dazzas_cooked
Baker and rugby league fan Darren Jarrett runs a cafe called Ashby in St Heliers, Auckland.
Not only does he make exceptional pies, Darren's TikTok videos are so popular he's getting recognised in supermarkets.
"I got a message last week on Instagram saying 'I saw you in the supermarket but I was too shy to come in and say hello. It's crazy."
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Three of the best-selling pies at Ashby cafe in St Heliers, Auckland Photo: Ashby / Facebook
RNZ reporter Leonard Powell visits Darren one recent morning while he was baking custard twists and drinking his usual four-shot long black.
Darren puts the success of Ashby down to his personal mix of business and pleasure – serving up great food alongside great appreciation for the New Zealand Warriors.
Priced at $10 to $13, his pies are not the cheapest in town but made with care and quality ingredients, he says.
Every weekday, the cafe sells 150 to 200 of them and they make 300 on a Saturday.
Mince & Cheese – made with mozzarella, bechamel sauce and beer in the gravy – is the cafe's bestselling flavour as Kiwis just love it, Darren says.
There's always interesting new options on offer, though. This week, Darren debuted a katsu-style Chinese pork pie on TikTok.
On social media, Darren is often seen wearing one of his collection of Warriors' jerseys.
When the team is playing in Auckland, fellow rugby league fans often come into Ashby wearing Warriors merch, he says.
Although Darren has served a former player Warriors player (Logan Swann), he's still looking forward to the day that a current player ducks in for some food.
@dazzas_cooked Fried chicken. What more could you want? #pietok #pies #baker #glowup #aucklandeats ♬ Gameboy Color