Bucktown Apple Pie Contest

A few weeks ago we had wandered around Wicker Park and Bucktown and noticed signs for the Bucktown Apple Pie contest. For some reason, this seemed incredibly appealing to us both, so we wrote down the information and yesterday (the day of the contest) took two buses and made our way to the contest's appointed site. There, amid the chaos, were more apple pies than I think I've ever seen in one place. It reminded me of Harold and the purple crayon--you know the part where he draws nine pies and has a piece of each? Well there must have been hundreds.

It looked like to enter the contest you had to submit at least two pies. Then the judges judged the pies and whichever were deemed non-winners got placed on these long tables. The general public could then buy tickets--6 for $5--and two tickets would get you a slice of pie. You could pick the pie, while supplies last. There were SO many different kinds, it was even a little hard to choose! After eating three pieces of pie, we were impressed by the judges' fortitude. The third piece we had, we managed to get hold of one of the semi-finalist pies (judging was still in progress while we were there) and I tell you, those judges did know what they were about. The semi-finalist pie really was head and shoulders above the other two we'd tried.

We also saw a rather astonishing savory apple pie--with pork. Is that not weird and gross but also kind of intriguing?

Pocket of Bolts said my apple pie is definitely better than the first two we tried (his tasted like artificial apple flavor and mine had a texturally promising crust that was obviously completely devoid of salt), and could give the third one a run for its money. Said Pocket of Bolts, "You should enter next year." How old-fashioned by kind of charming an idea is that!?

It was a really good time--a brief outing but there was lots to see, a well-defined goal (eating the apple pies) and much to think about as regards the amazing and hitherto unconsidered variations in the apple pie kingdom.

Here are some apples and sunflowers, an arrangement just outside the door. It was so very fall-like.