It's true. Pie is love.
At least, it's true that people in Phoenix love pie. You turned out in droves for the first-ever Pie Social, this past Saturday, co-sponsored by Chow Bella and Roosevelt Row, to raise funds for after-school programs.
We loved seeing you, and tasting your pies! An estimated 300-400 people stopped by, with more than 200 pies. Flavors on the community pie tables included everything from bourbon beef pot pie to lemon meringue to our own Julie Peterson's Cherpumple. The variety of pumpkin pies was tastebud-boggling -- including vegan and raw -- and the folks manning the registration table saw a heck of a lot of apple and berry go by.
And none of that counts the 10 celebrity chefs who served up their own delicious -- and widely varied -- pie over on the patio at Jobot. They took part in a contest, and Michele Laudig says folks have been tweeting her all morning, asking for results. So we'll do a fancy post with pictures (and a slideshow later) -- and post the winners now -- right after the jump....
Best Presentation -- Veronica Arroyo, Bourbon Steak and Traci Wilbur, Pie Snob, tied for their yeast cheese and sour cherry craisin, respectively.
Best Taste -- Justin Beckett, Beckett's Table
Most Creative -- Justin Beckett, Beckett's Table
Most Memorable -- Justin Beckett, Beckett's Table
It's true, Beckett's fig and pecan pie was a huge hit with the judging panel! But it wasn't the crowd favorite. That honor -- in the form of the People's Choice award -- goes to Slade Grove of Wicked Kitchen and Cookies from Home, for his sugar caramel pie.
Congrats and thanks to all, and stay tuned for some pie porn later today.
