Hey everybody!
Remember yesterday, when I was all “I don’t like competing, wah wah”? Well, I did my part. I made this pie! We decided to call it “Baker Street Plum,” because of the children’s series “Basil of Baker Street, about a mouse who lives in Sherlock Holmes’ basement and solves mouse crimes!
Mmmm, Plum with basil and honey. I like it.
You’ll notice that it looks like most of my pies, which is to say, rustic. This is generally intentional! Pie is a home food, and one that anyone can make. It doesn’t need to look fancy to be good.
That being said, I may have spent a little time in the bathroom at the venue having a panic attack after seeing some other entries.
There were some really pretty pies there! I did feel rather inadequate, like I had brought the wrong pie.
(at this point, I may be obsessing about the pies again. forgive me.)
Anyway… There were 12 pies entered (and 12 cakes!). Once the judges had a chance to assess each one, it became a pie social (also, cake social, but whatever). Competitors were encouraged to maintain control of serving their own pie, but most people seemed to cut a few slices and then wander. Luckily for me, Mr. Pie did the wandering-and-getting-more-pie part, and so I was dishing up my pie when a volunteer came to get a second slice so the judges could retaste my pie! And yes, that is a good sign.
That right there, folks, is your third place pie! Interestingly, coming in 3rd of 12 against lots of really pretty pies felt a lot more like a triumph than that time I came in 1st of 3.
Last year’s winner Kate Lebo was there. She came in second, with a Whiskey Apple pie. She also entirely convinced me not to run away, AND had this wisdom: “I never trust a too-pretty pie crust. I’m afraid they’ll be tough.” So, yeah, Kate Lebo: definitely a fan of her. (also, fan of Mr. Pie for starting a conversation with her while I was busy freaking out in the bathroom.)
I didn’t get a picture of the winning pie alone, though it was the one right next to mine. It was apple pear. It was still warm. I think that might be some kind of cheating. Regardless, she had the flakiest crust I tasted there. Congratulations to her as well!
Many thanks to Jenise Silva at Seattlest for organizing this fun event! And in case you’re wondering, yes, Pie did emerge triumphant over cake again this year!
CONGRATULATIONS Rose!!!!!!
thanks, Kristy!
Congrats! you should try to come up with like a “shabby-chic” fancy/rustic pie crust, for competition purposes.
Thanks! Hmm, shabby-chic, I don’t know… I’ll definitely think about it! I’m competing again on the 22nd, maybe I’ll give it a trial run then!
Rose- Thanks for competing and Congrats! I’ll be there to cheer you and other bakers on at Pie Life on the 22nd.
@licorous
@cakevpierematch
Bravo, Rose, for baking a pie that was delicious and a bold flavor. I baked my Apple-Pear pie so late in the day that it didn’t have a chance to cool completely, and frankly I was a little nervous that it was too warm to serve (not cheating, I swear!). Anyway, I felt honored to be in a field of fabulous bakers and thanks for the nod to the flaky crust. Keep on baking!
Barbara Schwartz
http://www.piesbybarbara.com
Thanks, Barbara, and big congratulations to you! (I kept wanting to call you Nancy, but I knew it wasn’t right.) I don’t really think the warm pie was cheating. I would definitely have been nervous going in with a still-warm pie, but clearly it didn’t hurt your performance any! It was a great pie, and I’m honored to have come close to it!
Great Job! I really loved your pie!
Thanks, Steve! I think I missed out on tasting yours. Are you coming to Pie Life at City Arts?
Congratulations, Rose! My husband and I both enjoyed your plum pie immensely. Congratulations on your award! I hope to indulge in more of your pie sometime. 🙂
Woo hoo! Nicely played, Rose. Thrilled to hear you nailed it in your second contest, too.
Thanks for sharing the experience. Mr. Pie’s photos are great… really bring it to life.