Second Annual Amateur Pie Competition
Chicago, Illinois (September 28, 2009) – Twenty-five apple pie bakers from the Chicagoland area competed on September 19th in the second annual amateur competition organized by Pastry Chicago at Whole Foods in the South Loop. Sponsors, such as KitchenAid, donated prizes for this year’s event including the limited-edition KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Mixers for the top three winners. Dean Poulos of Homer’s Gourmet Ice Cream in Wilmette, Illinois contributed two delicious flavors of ice cream to complement the reception buffet provided by Whole Foods.
This year, competitors created apple pies using Plugrá European-Style Butter, King Arthur Flour, and Nielsen Massey Vanilla, all ingredients that may be found at Whole Foods. They were judged not only on taste, but also on texture, decoration, and professionalism. Volunteering as judges this year were (pictured below left to right) Celine Plano, Executive Pastry Chef at The Peninsula Chicago, Toni Roberts, Pastry Chef for C-House Restaurant, Alissa Wallers, Pastry Chef for Elysian, Cris Patolot, co-owner of French Cakes Pâtisserie, Stacey Marshall, Culinary Coordinator for Whole Foods South Loop, and Jeanna Kraus, Pastry Instructor at the Illinois Institute of Art.
While the judges critiqued the pies and tallied scores, the competitors and guests observed a demonstration by Chef de Cuisine and Instructor at The French Pastry School, John Kraus. Chef Kraus presented a summer plated dessert, consisting of several different elements such as a wild strawberry herb sorbet, Sablé Breton, cold-infused fresh mint with melon, and garnished with port vinaigrette.
Following the demonstration, reception and networking time in the Whole Foods café, the five winners of the competition were announced. Fifth place was awarded to Beatrice Boehme for her Apple Almond Pie with Bourbon; fourth place went to Diana Sheng and her French Apple Custard Pie; Terri Treitman and her Gingersnap Streusel Apple Pie took third place; Nima Namdar won second place with his Apples Quince, Caramelized Banana Pie in a Hazelnut Crust; and first place was awarded to Chelsey Torres for her Black Raspberry Apple Pie.
“We had a great competition this year, creating a positive experience for all involved,” said Renée Bohus, Assistant Director of Pastry Chicago, “The contest gave our competitors the chance to receive comments and critique from professional pastry chefs, students the chance to volunteer and make connections to the greater pastry community; and everyone got to see a fun and interesting demonstration by a master pastry chef. We all had a great time!”
Pastry Chicago will host its Third Annual Haunted Cupcake Competition on October 24, 2009 at Whole Foods, Lincoln Park, Chicago.
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Rules and Regulations:
- Registration forms must be submitted by September 11, 2009 by the end of the day or until spaces fill. Only the first 25 entries will be accepted for the competition.
- Contestants may arrive at 12:30 pm. All entries must be submitted by 1:00.
- Contestants must submit a total of two identical pies: one 9” pie for judging and one 9” pie for display.
- All pies and recipes are to be submitted on the day of the competition. Pies will be displayed for you on white plates and presented to the judges for tasting. No additional display items may accompany your pie.
- By entering your pie, you agree to have your recipe published on our website.
- Pie recipes must be submitted with the pies for tasting (if no recipe is submitted your pies will not be judged).
- Pies are served cold. No baking is done on the premises.
- All contestants must use the following ingredients, but are not limited to only these ingredients: Nielsen Massey Vanilla, Plugrá European-Style Butter, King Arthur Flour and an apple variety of your choosing (all of these items can be found at your local Whole Foods store).
- Each entry must be the sole work of the entrant.
- All pies and decoration must be edible.
- All entries must be submitted for judging by 1:00 pm (please arrive as of 12:30 pm).
- Pastry Chicago and Whole Foods are not responsible for any items left behind at the end of this event.
- Registration Form
For information on becoming a participant of the competition, or if you have any questions please contact Lindsay Koriath at info@pastrychicago.org, 312.726.2419 ext.208.
