It all started when I was 8 years old. I was working for my uncle cleaning used vacuum cleaners, preparing them to be sold. I was making $5 an hour.
I saved my money until a day came that my parents took me to an auction. Here at this auction they were selling TVs, toolsets, vacations, nerf guns and all kind of things. I noticed on one of the tables there were pies. I looked over the table to find a mixed berry pie, combination of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, and strawberries nestled into a double crust.
I, at 8 years old, patiently waited till the end of the auction where the bidding on the mixed berry pie began. I confidently started bidding, higher and higher. I don't know what twisted individual is bidding against an 8 year old trying to get a pie but I ended up winning the pie in the end.
This pie was handmade by the state of Indiana senator's wife, this pie began my journey. For the next 13 years I embarked on a journey to try to find a pie equally as good as the mixed berry pie.
This takes me to the age of 21 years old where I find myself in Muncie, Indiana at a Yart festival (Yard Art),
At this stage, I have given up my pie hunt and have developed a yellow dye allergy which has barred me from eating most pies as store bought pie crust contains yellow dye. (Thankfully i'm no longer allergic to this)
With that being said, I wandered among all of the art displays where I see a middle aged woman with a table in front of her full of pies. She is raising money to send kids from her church on a mission trip. She is raising this money by, you guessed it, selling pies.
I look over the table and see sample cups of all the different types of pie. I said " Excuse me miss but i'd like to try which ever pie is your best selling pie"
She replied " Oh that would be my Mountain berry pie, a mix of blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry"
She informs me all the pie crust are made from scratch and there were no dyes being used so I take a sample cup and try it. At this moment, after 13 years the search was over I have found the pie to replace what to this point has only been a distant memory of the pie I won at that auction.
After tasting this pie, I immediately say I will buy 3 of them. She then informs me as this is her best selling pie she is actually sold out.
I'm devastated but was so impressed that I looked over the table to see if I could find another pie for the evening.
In the back I see a pie that's oozing a dark purple juice from the center of a double crust.
Overlooked and hidden behind a variety of pies, laid one more mountain berry pie. $10 for such a pie was a steal but unfortunately I had no cash on me. My at the time girlfriend was with me who graciously bought me this pie.
I had followed up and reordered several pies from her but we drifted apart until we find ourselves at the next Yart Festival. Due to the large quantity of pies I ordered, referrals I brought her, and my passion for pies I expected her to remember me.
I approached the table with no acknowledgment from her, distressed and shocked I walked a way pie-less. I talked it through with the same, at the time, girlfriend while we walked around the festival. She convinced me to give her another chance and to approach the table to see if she would remember me.
As I approached the table this time the lady says" Ohhh you are the kid with the yellow dye allergy right?", relieved I bought 3 more pies.
It was here that this story takes a turn. I was telling this story to a customer of mine where she mentioned that she had a story that would one up me. She told me that she vacations every year in Pie Town, New Mexico to attend their yearly Pie Festival. One year at the festival she was given a recipe for a very special unique pie from the Mayor himself. I repeat the mayor of Pietown, New Mexico that host the annual pie festival gave this woman a unique pie recipe.
The recipe was for a blueberry apple pie.
This woman, the saint she is, gave me the recipe. Now I myself am not a baker and do not want to be one so I was tasked with finding someone that could make this pie.
It took me two years and countless interviews before identifying someone that could make this pie. I started a new job and was telling this story to my team. Multiple people mentioned that JT, a good friend of mine's girlfriend ( who also trained me for the new job) was an excellent baker and they were confident she could make the pie. I was skeptical.
I spoke with Brittany and asked her a series of questions that were along the lines of
Cake or Pie?
Favorite type of pie?
Why?
What kind of crust?
After answering these questions correctly I let her view the recipe to get her thoughts. She asked if she could alter the recipe, my stomach dropped, that was risky.
She asked if she could swap the lattice crust for a dutch crust. There is no crust I love more than a dutch crust, right then I knew she could make this pie.
Brittany went home to bake the best pie that I have ever had the privilege to try. I was fortunate enough to not only have it once but multiple times as Brittany bakes this recipe for special occasions.
For the past year I thought the story ended here but after recently telling the story to some friends we have realized I need to attend the Pie Festival and as we speak I am currently working to become a judge on the panel of the Pie Festival for 2020. Wish me luck.
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