Pie Social: No Need for Humble Pie

Keep New Times Free

I Support

Local
Community
Journalism

Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of New Times free.

The first-ever Pie Social -- to be held Saturday, November 13, 2 to 6 p.m. at 5th Street and Roosevelt -- is right around the corner. While we wait, we are busy trying to flex our pie-baking muscles. We've never made lemon meringue pie before so this seems like the perfect time to try our hand at it.

In a restaurant of café, when we ask, "What kind of pie do you have?" we're always hoping to hear the magic words lemon meringue. When we don't, we're disappointed, because it's not a pie we feel comfortable making even though we love its tangy, citrusy sweetness.

That's about to change.

Check out how we did -- and what you need to do to be a part of the Pie Social -- after the jump.

Looking over a dozen lemon meringue pie recipes, we see that most include a simple combination of ingredients. The lemon filling is sugar, a little flour and cornstarch, water, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks. This part we've got covered.

Ok, but what about the meringue? There's just something a little intimidating about it what with its whipping and stiff foamy peaks of egg whites. It's a process that seems equal parts mystical and chemical, and ripe for disaster. We take our time. We keep our egg-whites cold in the refrigerator until just when they are needed. We hover over the kitchen-aid.

But presto -- our meringue is a billowy, curling mass. "Oh, really is that all?" It was easy as pie. A pie breakthrough.

Just think what the local celebrity chefs lined-up for Pie Social might be coming up with -- we can't wait to see what they've got in store for us.

The big question is -- will you bring pies to Pie Social or will you just taste? The choice is up to you. Here's how you can enjoy the fun. First, a line up of local celebrity bakers will be offering their pies for your tasting enjoyment ($10 for 5 tasting tickets, which you can buy the day of the event) and each will also offer up a whole pie for a silent auction.

Or, you are invited to bake a pie -- or two -- for our community pie tasting. Bring two pies and we'll give you 5 tasting tickets. You can download an application or simply show up Nov. 13 with pie. And there's no baking requirement -- you are welcome to simply come and buy tasting tickets.

Keep Phoenix New Times Free... Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Phoenix with no paywalls.

Events

Recommended For You

Pie Social: No Need for Humble Pie

Trending Food & Drink

Powered by SailThru