Thankfully, there were NOT "four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie," but there were more appetizing flavors entered into the 3rd Annual Neighborly Pie Bake-off.
This year's entries included:
2 apple pies
2 lemon meringue pies
1 chocolate creme pie
1 apple torte
1 strawberry-rhubarb pie
1 macadamia nut creme pie
1 coconut creme pie
1 pecan pie
This judging stuff is serious business; however, my son, Miles, and the two Daves were up for the challenge.
Since the judges had to sample all ten pies, it was crucial for them to get a good representation of what the pie had to offer in one small bite.
As the tasting/judging commenced, I couldn't help but think back to my economics classes at Purdue and consider what effect "diminishing marginal utility" might have played in the contest.
Diminishing marginal utility is a law of economics stating that as a person increases consumption of a product - while keeping consumption of other products constant - there is a decline in the marginal utility (or satisfaction/enjoyment) that person derives from consuming each additional unit of that product.
Given this principle, the first pie to be tasted likely was scored higher than the tenth entry. Hmmm... To add to that, each judge comes in with his own preferences and biases for his favorite pie flavor. There also might be inside information as to who the baker of a specific pie is. It's a slippery slope indeed. Especially if there's whipped cream involved.
This is a blind tasting, and we try to keep things as fair and balanced as possible. Pies were tasted, notes were made, heads were scratched, very full bellies were rubbed, and scores were tallied. All of the judges agreed that it was difficult to pick a favorite. Competition was neck in neck, or slice to slice, or something like that.
First place (The Golden Fork Award) went to Toni's still-warm-from-the-oven apple pie. Toni is new to the neighborhood, so this was her first time to attend the foodfest. Beginner's luck? I don't think so...
Second place went to Krystin's strawberry-rhubarb creation. YUM!
Third place was awarded to Gillian's lemon meringue pie.
The upper crust: Krystin, Gillian, and Toni
Two of the winners' husbands served as judges, but we know that these gals won fair and square, without any help from their husbands. No investigations of voter fraud will be forthcoming. Besides, all of the evidence was eaten.
Here are a few photos of some of the neighbors who attended this year's event.
Say, "Pie!"
