Tomorrow the Eastbank Farmers Market plays host to Pietopia, the second pie contest in the last five days. The big difference between Pietopia and last Sunday’s Portland Pie-Off, however, is that the Pietopia pies come with one additional ingredient: symbolism. Contestants submitting pie recipes to Pietopia are also asked to submit a story that connects the pie and its ingredients to a life experience. The winners receive a one-of-a-kind art print inspired by their entries, and a chance to sample their pies at the Farmers Market.
At least one Pietopia winner is taking it as a chance to go further. Kristina Baesler, who won with her White (wine) Rabbit Pie, is hoping that her Pietopia win is a sign she will soon kick-ass in the Portland food scene with her savory pies and ice creams. On her new blog, Meat a la Mode, there is a good amount of space given to discussing her creations, which all sound quite tasty. It’s clear that she’s casting about for a place to land after a soul deadening office job, and I hope that someone gives her a space to apply her skills. Because I have to say, I want an Oxtail Pie with Dill Ice Cream… Right now.
You can taste Baesler’s creation tomorrow (along with pies from three other winners) between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm at the Eastbank Farmers Market [SE 20th and Salmon].
This is the magical entry that won me the Portland Pietopia Contest!
Help me realize my life-long dream -- Recommend me to all those funding culinary adventures...Spread the word, share the pie love...
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“How crazy is life?! I’ve gone through the looking glass!”
White (wine) Rabbit Pie
Everything is a little upside down in my world. A little debt, a little regret, and a lot of wine. I should be baking pies all day instead of taking crap from people who are probably far worse at living life than I am. But, I followed a path that led down a rabbit hole of fake-smiles and endless passive-aggressive office banter...
So now I slap a grin on my face, raise my voice a couple octaves, and enter my office cubicle (represented via cubed potatoes) about 15 minutes late (I spend my mornings baking, one of the few things I have to keep the ol’ noodle slightly grounded in reality) every morning. I feel like I'm really late for a very important date with my true destiny. I continue each day on a seemingly endless journey to pay off my loans and begin my “real life” – outside of this freakish Wonderland. I feel bad for all my co-workers; mad as hatters and not helped in the least by the complete lack of passion I have for my job that leads to endless flakiness on my part – like so much puffy pastry.
The gold atop my White (wine) Rabbit Pie represents how good I make my life look from the outside. Shiny, polite and decadent on the surface, and deliciously politically incorrect on the in – I spend my day desperately wanting to scream what my pies say so naturally, “EAT ME.”
I'm ready for the next chapter!
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Please see attached photos of my finished product.
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