Maybe you remember Gluten-Free Girl’s virtual pie party back over the summer. Something like a thousand bloggers from around the world all wrote about pie on the same day — July 5. Lots of pie, but none to eat besides your own. Then my buddies Jackie and Ken got to thinking… What about a real-life pie event, in New York City, with as many people as you could pack into a big room, and Pie Party Live was born.
I’m not sure what the final count was on Saturday, easily 50 or 60 pies — it was an event to remember. Sweet, savory, hand pies, tarts, rustic open pies, you name it. I made Chocolate-Butterscotch Pie and Bacon & Corn Pie, but more about those in a minute. I lost track of how many pies I tasted. But what I love best about events like these are the people of course, friends old and new — Jackie, Ken, Jen, Margaret, Mitch, Melissa, Yvo, Louisa, Emily, Gail, Serena, Pam, Kamran, Abby, Winnie, Veronica, Emily, Lillian, Alexandra and too many more to list.
There were no official prizes and ribbons, but a few of my favorites were baked by Gail, Ken, Pam (of course), Veronica, and pretty much anything Lillian ever makes.
There were some great give-aways though. Big thanks go out to sponsors like Cuisinart and KitchenAid, plus all the cookbook authors who donated books. I had no idea Jarlsberg was a give-away sponsor when I used their cheese in one of my pies (see below). But the biggest thanks go to Rodeo Bar on 3rd Avenue for the space. They were great hosts and even sent out some eats from the menu for us to try.
So what did I bake for the event? First was this Chocolate-Butterscotch Pie from The Glory of Southern Cooking by James Villas, which is a book I worked on a few years ago. That’s a meringue topping, which is kind of funny because Jen heard me ranting about how much I don’t like meringue last week. I’ve never been a fan, but this pie converted me.
And the one everyone unexpectedly kept asking me about was Bacon and Corn Pie with Cornmeal Crust from the award-winning Pig: King of the Southern Table, also by James Villas, which I’m proud to say I also worked on. So for everyone who wanted to know more about it, here is the recipe (slightly abbreviated and adapted).
Bacon and Corn Pie with Cornmeal Crust
From Pig: King of the Southern Table by James Villas
Makes 6 (very hearty) servings
For the Filling:
8 to 10 slices bacon (more if you love it), diced
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
12 ounces frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup grated Jarlsberg cheese (or maybe a pinch more)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Crust:
1 cup stoneground yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled
1/4 cup milk
1. To make the filling, fry the bacon in a large, deep skillet over moderate heat till crispy; drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the grease, then add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, till softened, about 8 minutes. Add the corn and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat to cool for 5 minutes. Add the half-and-half, eggs, cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper and set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch pie dish with butter and set aside.
3. To make the crust, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening in a bowl and work the mixture with your fingers till well blended. Add the milk and stir with a wooden spoon till the dough gathers into a clump. (You might need a pinch more milk to do this.) On a lightly floured surface, pat the dough (do not roll it out) into a manageable circle, fit it into the prepared pie dish, and press it firmly on the bottom and up the sides. Fold any excess dough under and crimp the edges as desired.
4. Sprinkle the bacon over the bottom of the crust, scrape the filling evenly into the dish. I suggest you place the pie plate on a baking sheet, to be safe. Bake till golden, about 50 minutes. Let the pie cool for about 20 minutes before serving in wedges. It’s just as yummy or maybe even better at room temperature.
You NYC people have the greatest events. It seems that I’m always reading about something fun that you’re up to! A pie party sounds wonderful. I love that you made a meringue pie when you’re not a fan of meringue- kind of forcing yourself to try it (I’m not a meringue fan either). Bacon in pie? Sounds good to me!
i swear this pie would convert you too
Such a GREAT party! Thanks to everyone for sharing their goods and to Jackie & Ken for organizing it so well…and for the raffle prize, yay! Very happy to meet everyone🙂 I think the Chocolate-Butterscotch pie made me a meringue convert too, nice job.
aww, thanks Miss Jen
WOW, a true pie wonderland!! You guys all really outdid yourselves, those pies look incredible.
ha, definitely
I’m so sad that I missed this party! What a beautiful spread!
I will have to try this corn pie…i love savory pies!
hey, i thought you were going to be there! no really, didn’t you tell me you would?
i should have had a snack before clicking on this.
wow Justin you get all the super-fly events eh?
good stuff!
this was just a bunch of cool bloggers coming together… very fun
Your pies were off the hook. Thanks for being part of the party.
thanks so much, Ken. finally i got to cook something for you.
Such an impressive event. I might actually fly in for the next one.
that would be really cool if you did
So bummed I missed it! Thanks for the recap and I am so making the Chocolate-Butterscotch Pie. Thanks for sharing.
sorry to hear you were sick. Jen and I were sick earlier in the week. you definitely missed a fun time.
Wow this looks sooo amazing! i really missed out on all the fun!
dude, you definitely missed out!
It was such a fun event. So many awesome pies. I loved your bacon and corn pie. I wanted to eat more of it but was limiting myself so I could try many pies. Now I can make it and eat a whole big piece.
oh sorry i left you off the post, but it was nice seeing you!
I always enjoy reading your recap of events/gatherings – it makes me feel like I was there… except this time I was really there! Though it felt like a dream with so many pies… dangit I’m getting hungry seeing these pies again… forget making the bacon & corn pie for the holidays – that’s too far away! I’ll have to find some time these next couple weeks…thanks for sharing the recipe. Btw, do you think the vegetable shortening in the crust can be substituted w/ butter? Or maybe I’ll just make a regular pie crust… it’s the filling that I really want!😉
p.s. thanks for the mention! =)
you’re welcome. about the crust, the author is Southern, so he’s into Crisco. i guess butter would work fine too, but i don’t think i’d use a regular crust for this at all. the cornmeal texture of the crust makes it special, if you ask me. anyway, let me know if you try it.
I am so glad I made the trip for the pie party…was great to see you again and I loved this pie! Thanks for sharing the recipe Justin…see you again soon, I hope🙂
it was great seeing you there
dang. those pies look amazing! quite a spread.
I particularly like the “maybe a pinch more” in the instructions for the cheese.
i’m all about the “pinch more”
Very cool to finally meet you in person. I had a blast getting to know everyone, eating incredible pies and watching people win cool prizes. I hope this becomes an annual event. Thanks for turning us onto your tasty and delicious pies, they were GOOD! Next time I’m reversing my eating method and going with sweet pies first. I began with savory pies wrapping it up with sweet pies – leaving me with a sugar induced coma! Good thing we spent the day zooming around the city.
it was cool to meet you too
It was so great to meet you in person!
PS Your corn and bacon pie was one of my faves of the day!
That part looks fantastic. I would love to make a bus trip next time to hang out with y’all. That bacon corn pie looks ridiculously delicious.