This past Sunday I participated in the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest. There were 114 contestants who each submitted two double crust, all apple pies. The goal of the event was to raise money for Holstein Park in Bucktown.
The morning started off at 4:30 in the morning, rolling out pie crusts, peeling & slicing apples, and baking two identical apple pies. Luckily I had an amazing sous-chef for peeling apples and moral support, Peter. When I arrived at 10am to the Holstein Park fieldhouse everyone was filing in to submit their pies. When I went to submit my pie, my name was nowhere to be found on the list. I did my best to not freak out and waited on the stand by list until the last pie was submitted, luckily there were some contestants who did not show and I was able to submit my pies.
Later that day when I arrived to the judging I noticed my name was on a list of nine finalists. This was the first time my name has ever appeared on anything (I’ve never made a team or gotten a role in a school play) so I was ecstatic. While we waited for the final judging there was live music and tastings of submitted pies and my friend Carolynn hung out with me to await the results.
My goal for this competition was to make a great tasting very traditional pie. I made an all butter crust (using Plugra butter) with a combination of apples for the filling (Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, McIntosh, and Cortland). I also wanted to create different textures so besides using different types of apples I microwaved one third of the apples to gain a tender consistency.
For the final round of judging we were able to watch as local pastry chefs, restaurateurs, and writers tasted each of the nine pies. The judges pictured above include: Michael Taus (Duchamp/Zealous), Naomi Levine (TipsyCake), Ashley Heaton (Whole Foods), and Della Gosset (Charlie Trotter’s).
Judges shown above are: Tony Galzin (mk restaurant), Catherine Miller (Takashi), Jill Van Cleave (author), and Maria Mariottini (Bucktown Arts Fest). Scott Waguespack (Alderman of the 32nd Ward) was also a judge.
When the results were finally announced, I heard my name spoken on stage for the first time since graduation as the fifth place winner. With this being my first competition and the morning’s scare of not being able to participate I was shocked and elated with this announcement. Not only did I get to win a beautiful and gigantic ribbon, I got to meet local pastry chefs and shake the Alderman’s hand and have him tell me my pie was his favorite!
