Cole Valley's pie contest is serious neighborhood business
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Pie! Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios
I can now add "pie judge" to my résumé, though I'm not sure my first assignment prepared me for just how seriously one can debate a crust.
State of play: I joined the judging table at the second annual pie-baking competition during the Cole Valley night market last week.
- It was my first time judging a food competition, in which I tasted about 20 different pies.
🥧 Dig in: The pies lined up along Cole Street were impressive, with golden lattice crusts, towering toppings, fruit fillings, chocolate and even a savory creation depicting Sutro Tower.
- Judging began at 6pm, with the winners announced about an hour later.
Between the lines: My fellow five or so other judges and I worked our way through the entries, considering flavor, texture and presentation. I quickly discovered that judging pie requires more concentration than simply eating pie.
- Plus, I brought Mimi, who served as my unofficial assistant.
Nadia's thought bubble: Between bites, I was reminded why neighborhood events like this are so much fun to cover and participate in. Contestants hovered anxiously nearby, neighbors stopped to watch and eagerly lined up for a slice and everyone seemed invested in who would take home the honors.
- My personal favorite was the banana toffee pie, a rich stack of buttery crust, fresh banana, gooey toffee and a cloud of whipped cream.
🥇 The winners: Sven Elfgren won first place in the savory category for his Swedish cheese pie, local chef Massimo Giusti took second place for his torta verde, a sweet concoction made with kale, raisins and pine nuts from his native Italy, and Sasha (who did not disclose her last name) was honored with first place for her spiced apple pie, a crowd favorite. Another contestant, Haridia (who also did not disclose her last name) tied for second for her triple berry pie.
- The winners earned prizes that included cutting boards, Cole Valley pie contest merchandise and a particularly fitting reward: the chance to judge next year's competition.
The bottom line: I came prepared to eat pie but left with a new appreciation for the people in the neighborhood who bake them and for just how much community can fit around one table.
- Apparently, there's also no such thing as too much pie.