Sweet Pies Draw A Crowd

Libby Abraham claimed the rights to the title of best pie baker in Westville Monday evening, fending off seven strong competitors to win a neighborhood-wide competition.

Tagan Engel, one of the judges in the competition, raved about Abraham’s brandied plum pie, which had a golden vanilla custard filling and a cocoa crust

“It was a perfectly balanced pie in terms of flavor, texture and sweetness, and it was baked just right,” Engel said. ​“She used a British custard recipe … and the crust recipe was also British, inspired by Paul Hollywood from ​“The Great British Bake Off” show.”

Monday evening’s competition took place at the first of five weekly Monday-night concerts scheduled for July and August at Beecher Park, which surrounds Westville’s library branch at Harrison Street and Whalley Avenue.

The Westville Village Renaissance Alliance hosts the concerts. Elizabeth Donius, head of WVRA, said her organization has organized these concerts for about seven years.

Neighbors were invited to bring their families and picnic gear to the park, watch local musicians perform and taste pies baked by their friends and neighbors for the competition. Eight adults baked pies Monday night for the competition, as did three kids from the neighborhood, who competed in a separate kids’ contest. Each contestant baked two pies, meaning 22 pies were served in total. A team of adult judges decided the winner and runner-up for Monday’s adult competition, and two girls from Westville judged the kids’ competition.

Beyla Ridky claimed first place in the kids’ contest with a cherry pie. Ridky said her secret to making a good pie is giving the pie a lattice top, because it helps steam escape from the pie.

Finn Earnshaw, who also baked a cherry pie, came in second place in the kids’ competition. Earnshaw said it was his second year participating.

Pie competitions take place at each of the Beecher Park concerts, and each competition has a unique theme. The theme for Monday’s contest was stone fruits, meaning only fruits with pits such as cherries, peaches, plums and nectarines could be used in the pies.

Concert-goers were eager to get their hands on the pies. The line for pie stretched from the serving table far across the lawn of the park for most of the evening. Members of the WVRA decided to decrease the number of slices of pie per person to ensure that everyone on line had a chance to try some.

Willie Hoffman, who was waiting in the line when he spoke to the Independent, said he has been coming to the Beecher Park concerts for about four years. Hoffman said he did not bake a pie for Monday’s competition, but he plans to participate in the ​‘savory pie’ competition that will take place at next Monday’s concert.

Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps, a local band that has played at the concerts in past years, took center stage Monday evening. The band played a medley of smooth jazz, rock and folk music.

Local businesses also pitched in to make the concert a success. Vanilla ice cream, scoops of which accompanied every serving of pie, was provided free of charge by Ashley’s Ice Cream, according to Donius. Ashley’s also provided the runner-up in the kids’ pie contest with a gift card. Deja Brew, a cafe in Westville, offered a gift card to the winner of the kids’ contest.

Mamoun’s restaurant brought a food cart to the party and dished out falafels and baba ghanouj throughout the evening. Bellal Chater, who works at Mamoun’s and manned the food cart Monday evening, said this is was the third or fourth year his restaurant sold food at the event.