Home Bakers Vie For "Pie Boss" Title This Saturday in Pleasantville

The Phelps Annual Apple Pie Contest is this Saturday, October 14 at the Pleasantville Farmers Market, located in Memorial Plaza, Pleasantville, NY. At 11:00am that morning the Market will honor three champion bakers, bestowing upon each of them a gift basket, a first place medal and bragging rights for the next 12 months.

If rainy weather sets up for October 14, as a significant issue, a postponement notice will be posted on the Market's website homepage by noon Friday, October 13, and a rain date of October 21 would be set as the new event date.

Do you have the baked goods to win? Have fun finding out by entering your own pie or dessert in the event. Prior to entering the Contest home bakers are asked to email info@pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org to receive to receive details and rules for the event. Nevertheless, pies are accepted without pre-registration, until 9:45am Saturday, as long as they follow these key expectations:

• participants must be amateur home bakers only
• pie/dessert must be made all-from-scratch by the person making the submission
• only one submission is permitted per household
• provide a full list of ingredients (measurements are not requested)

However, if not pre-registered, arrive with enough time prior to 9:45am to fill out an Apple Pie Entry form and submit the Entry Fee of $5. Money raised by entry fees and the selling slices of all pies at the conclusion of the event contribute to the non-profit Pleasantville Farmers Market’s scholarship fund (annually awarded to a graduating Pleasantville High School student on the basis of community service in areas of environmental stewardship, education and leadership).

The three categories for entries into the Contest are:

• Best All-From-Scratch 2-crust Apple Pie
• Best All-From-Scratch 1-crust Apple Tart, Crumb, or Crisp
• Best All-From-Scratch Apple Pie by a Junior Chef (18 and Under)

The Phelps Annual Apple Pie Contest is a highlight of the Market’s culinary programming. All Health & Sustainability and Culinary events are made possible thanks to generous support from Lead Sponsor Phelps Hospital Northwell Health, which over the course of the summer includes a corn roast, apple tasting, and chef demonstrations.

Local cookbook author and event committee member Suzy Scherr says, “This is a big market and we try to create for our visitors something close to a state-fair type of contest, but on a smaller and friendlier scale. To be deemed the best by our panel of judges means you are a very good baker!”

The judges include a mix of culinary experts and Village luminaries:

• Daniel Blum --- Executive Vice President of Operations of Phelps Hospital Northwell Health

• Nina Dolls --- Zwilling J.A. Henckels Marketing Director and Culinary Relations

• Caitlin Dwyer --- Owner of Flour and Sun Bakery

• Peggy Galotti --- Principal at Bedford Road School

• Dave Juros --- Pleasantville Community Garden

• Chuck Mead --- Fruit and Vegetable Producer, vendor at the Pleasantville Farmers Market

• John Morash --- Assistant Principal at Bedford Road School

• Greg Nemec --- Art Teacher at Pleasantville High School

• Peter Scherer --- Mayor of the Village of Pleasantville and Friend of the Market

• Q --- Owner of Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe

Entries are judged on appearance, taste, and the baking skill of the chef as evidenced by evenness of cooking. “In the past some entries have been very fancy with décor but the dessert had areas of undercooked or burned crust, or over-cooked apples. Event judges carefully note texture and baking skills” says event committee member Ali Serebin.

That said, event committee member Catherine Sabol emphasizes, “We recognize that everyone who puts their pie out there is a winner. Every piece of pie is sold after the winners are announced and the eating of these apple desserts is always a great celebration, letting our participants know they should all be proud of their culinary skills.”

Steve Bates, the Market’s Executive Director of Operations says, “The Phelps Annual Apple Pie Contest always has wonderful sense of community participation and involvement – whether those attending are pie bakers, pie eaters, or both. It’s a great way to celebrate the harvest season and the Market appreciates the generosity of our vendors, who donate our wonderful prizes.”

Each winner receives a Pleasantville Farmers Market canvas tote bag stuffed with products donated by some the Market’s 56 vendors.

Foodchester, Inc., operator of the Pleasantville Farmers Market, is a Pleasantville-based non-profit organization dedicated to healthy communities, sustainable food systems, and local economic development. To subscribe to Market news, view events or vendor lists, and get directions and more details, visit www.pleasantvillefarmersmarket.