![Vina Bakery's former owner Quan Nguyen with new owner Tung Vu with the green Raiders bread and pies. Picture by Keegan Carroll Vina Bakery's former owner Quan Nguyen with new owner Tung Vu with the green Raiders bread and pies. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/dc402043-e3d8-40ca-9e8e-d2043e3322ab.jpg/r0_433_5000_3255_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It's officially Raiders' footy finals season - the meat pies have turned green at the Vina Bakery in Wanniassa.
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Wanniassa baker Quan Nguyen has his green Raiders pies and bread back on the shelves as the Green Machine contests the finals series.
There's also green cookies and Raiders tri-coloured neenish tarts.
What's in the green food remains a secret. But it just might be Viking blood, Quan will neither confirm nor deny.
"I can't tell you," he said, with his trademark cheeky grin.
![Victor the Viking cookies at the Vina Bakery at Wanniassa. Picture by Keegan Carroll Victor the Viking cookies at the Vina Bakery at Wanniassa. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/e64dca89-a032-493e-9892-0ce3771f222e.jpg/r0_256_5000_3078_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Okay seriously. As far as the pies go, the meat is normal inside, the pastry is just turned green with good, old-fashioned food colouring.
The green bread also comes with your favourite player's named stencilled on with flour.
Quan is a mad Raiders supporter, always donning the colours for the finals and even creating a special Green Machine tribute wall in the bakery, which has been signed by many players, past and present.
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But this year will be different, as Quan has sold the bakery, hanging up his apron after 32 years as a baker and 25 years running the bakery at the Wanniassa shops.
He has sold the business to Tung Vu, and promised to stay on and help the new owner for as long as he needs.
![Get 'em while they're hot - the green pies are back at the Vina bakery in Wanniassa for Raiders finals footy. Picture by Keegan Carroll Get 'em while they're hot - the green pies are back at the Vina bakery in Wanniassa for Raiders finals footy. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/b2b8b324-8aa4-4124-9122-825bc9d32ec4.jpg/r0_256_5000_3334_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Quan started at the bakery in Wanniassa in 1997 and has become a much-loved local identity ever since, always ready for some banter and predictions about the Raiders.
He said he felt "sad!" to be leaving the business.
"But my heart's still here," he said.
And his customers are already missing him.
"Oh, they're sad but I've told them I'll still be here for a while," he said.
![Raiders neenish tart anyone? Picture by Keegan Carroll Raiders neenish tart anyone? Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/a3dc8d26-032e-44a4-80f1-d1a388149e5d.jpg/r0_256_5000_3078_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Tung was happy to have Quan's guidance.
"I'm very lucky he stayed with me," Tung said. "He's a very good man."
For Quan, the mind is willing but the body is weak after 32 years of rising before dawn to make bread.
"It's been seven days a week," he said.
![What could be more Australian than a Vegemite sandwich made with Raiders-green bread? Picture by Keegan Carroll What could be more Australian than a Vegemite sandwich made with Raiders-green bread? Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/93c280bb-816a-4213-9a88-b74bba8fc5e4.jpg/r0_256_5000_3078_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Raiders and the Parramatta Eels play on Friday night for the right to play the North Queensland Cowboys next week.
Quan is not worried about this week. But is a little shaky on next week.
"You know what? The Cowboys are hard," he said.
![A loaf of Rapana thanks mate. Picture by Megan Doherty A loaf of Rapana thanks mate. Picture by Megan Doherty](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/88435e83-3fb2-447c-8fc3-013590f07c05.jpg/r0_0_4032_2115_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Tung and Quan will be turning out the Green Machine-themed food as long as the Raiders are in contention.
And hopefully that means all the way.
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