The American Pie Council Names North America’s Top Pie Bakers of 2009 – Watch Movie below
At this annual event, which took place at the Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort and Convention Center in Celebration, Florida, pie bakers of all skill levels, all ages, and all degrees of training, from all over the United States and Canada, participated in a pie bake-off to determine North America’s best Professional, Amateur and budding Junior Chefs. Winners took home the Best of Show titles as well as $5,000, a new Sears Kenmore range and a Crisco gift basket with first place ribbons and bragging rights were also awarded to Commercial Division winners.
Professional Pie Baker
In the Professional division Best of Show, honors went to Linda Hundt, owner of the Sweetie-licious Pie Pantry in DeWitt, Michigan and a third-year entrant who won the judge’s hearts with “Tom’s Cheery Cherry Cherry Berry Pie.”
Amateur Pie Baker
The Best of Show winner for the Amateur division was Phyllis Szymanek from Toledo, Ohio who gained her division with her “Category Five Peanut Butter Pie”
The National Pie Event
This year, 138 bakers entered about 900 pies in the competition with 465 commercial, 130 professional and 266 amateur pies.
The pie event had more than 170 judges, including Kim Montello, Johnson and Wales University, Jim Whaples, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and professional chefs such as Robert Paulk, Certified Master Baker and David Ramirez, Executive Pastry Chef at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando and 2009 captain of Team USA in the Coupe du Monde (World Pastry Cup), as well as many food writers and editors. Judges also included everyday pie lovers who were selected through an application process.
Where Did They All Come From
Talented pie makers came from 28 states, from as far away as Washington, California, and parts of Canada.
Pie Categories
Amateurs were judged in 15 categories:
Apple, Citrus, Crisco Classic Cherry, Crisco Classic Chocolate, Cream, Cream Cheese, Custard, Fruit/Berry, Nut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Open, Raisin, sponsored by the California Raisin Marketing Board, Splenda and Sweet Potato. First place winners in each category received $200 cash and a Crisco gift basket, second place winners received $150 cash and third place winners took home $100 cash.
Professional bakers entered pies in eight categories:
Apple, Citrus, Crisco Classic Chocolate, Crisco Classic Cherry, Fruit/Berry, Cream, Nut and Open. First place winners in each category received $200 cash and a Crisco gift basket.
The American Pie Council is the only organization committed to maintaining America’s pie heritage, passing on the tradition of pie-making and promoting America’s love affair with pie. For more details, to become a member of the APC or to register for the National Pie Championships, visit www.piecouncil.org
Watch The Televised 2009 National Pie Show
Amateur Pie Winners
| Place | Entrant | Pie | Flavor | City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHYLLIS SZYMANEK | CATEGORY FIVE PEANUT BUTTER PIE | BEST OF SHOW | TOLEDO, OH | |
| 1 | LANA ROSS | HARVEST APPLE PIE | APPLE | INDIANOLA, IA |
| 1 | PATRICIA LAPIEZO | ROCKY S’MORES PIE | CRISCO® CLASSIC CHOCOLATE | LAMESA, CA |
| 1 | NIKKI NORMAN | CLASSIC CHERRY STUDEL-TOPPED PIE | CRISCO® CLASSIC CHERRY | MILTON, TN |
| 1 | JOHN SUNVOLD | AFTERNOON DELIGHT PIE | CITRUS | WINTER SPRINGS, FL |
| 1 | CHRISTINE MONTALVO | TRES LECHES CREAM PIE | CREAM | WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA |
| 1 | PATRICIA LAPIEZO | MEYER LEMON CHEESE PIE | CREAM CHEESE | LAMESA, CA |
| 1 | CAROL SOCIER | BUTTERSCOTCH PECAN CUSTARD PIE | CUSTARD | BAY CITY, MI |
| 1 | JOHN SUNVOLD | GINGER, YOU’RE A PEACH PIE | FRUIT & BERRY | WINTER SPRINGS, FL |
| 1 | CHRISTINE MONTALVO | VERMONT MAPLE PECAN PIE | NUT | WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA |
| 1 | DIANNE C. REEVES | CAJUN PECAN PIE | NUT | JENNINGS, LA |
| 1 | JOHN SUNVOLD | IRON CHEF LIME PIE | OPEN | WINTER SPRINGS, FL |
| 1 | JILL JONES | REAL PUMPKIN PIE | PUMPKIN | PALM BAY, FL |
| 1 | PATRICIA LAPIEZO | MAPLE OATMEAL RAISIN PIE | RAISIN | LAMESA, CA |
| 1 | LAURA FRANCESE | SPLENDA-DID PEANUT BUTTER PIE | SPLENDA® | GERRY, NY |
| 1 | CAROLYN BLAKEMORE | SWEET POTATO W/PECAN TOPPING PIE | SWEET POTATO | FAIRMONT, WV |
| 1 | PHYLLIS SZYMANEK | CATEGORY FIVE PEANUT BUTTER PIE | PEANUT BUTTER | TOLEDO, OH |
