Last Year's Pie Social Champ Justin Beckett on Messy Sandwiches and Energy Drinks

We're counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 -- 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don't forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers. And don't forget about our celebrity bakers -- every day we'll...

By Lauren Saria

November 4, 2011

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We're counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 -- 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don't forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers. And don't forget about our celebrity bakers -- every day we'll introduce you to a different one.

Today: Justin Beckett of Beckett's Table.

Beckett went straight from high school to culinary school and worked at Roy's Hawaiian fusion (as the youngest sous chef in the history of the restaurant!) and Canal at Scottsdale Waterfront before opening his current venture.

Pie is the new cupcake (I hope) because I am kinda over cupcakes and pies are so versatile.

The hardest part about baking a pie is making sure it is not overly sweet and making sure the crust comes out crispy and flaky

After the jump, find out which popular Phoenix coffee house Beckett likes to hang at.

The Phoenix food scene needs more messy sandwiches and BBQ and less energy drinks

When I'm not in the kitchen, you can find me hiking Squaw Peak Mountain, at home with my kids or at LUX coffee bar working on my Mac.

I'd like to throw a pie at people who try to order our bacon s'mores--without bacon.

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