Under the Pie Top: A Peek at the Big Berry Bake-Off

Experts from 5 beloved Montclair bakeries volunteered to judge. Left to right: Alisha from Cupcakes by Carousel and Colleen and Therese from Le Baker's Dozen* evaluating the Pies, Tarts, Crisps & Crumbles category on appearance [before tasting].

The entries were impressive, from Triple-Berry Pie to Raspberry Tart with Nut Crust, shown second from right--it was the big winner, made by Ronnie. She won a $75 Williams-Sonoma gift card and a dessert cookbook.

The judges at work. Note their cute babies.

The kids category winner, Julia, and her dad Charlie. Julia made Strawberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Icing. She and her dad volunteer at the soup kitchen, helping serve dinner on Sunday nights.

Every entrant paid a fee to enter, and we also had a bake sale and a raffle [$1 per chance] to win a blueberry cheesecake, peach/raspberry pie or blueberry almond tart. The raffle alone brought in almost $200. We raised good dough and sweet awareness, we hope, for Toni's Kitchen, the soup kitchen on South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. It operates out of St. Luke's Church.

So many great entries: blueberry tarts, raspberry-filled macarons, a berry flag cake, blueberry cupcakes.......and many more....and it was an honor to work with Karen Kadus, who was amazingly organized and a visionary; my friend, Anne, who is Toni's Outreach Director; Diane, who oversaw the judges; and volunteers Anne Q., Melanie, Shannon, Jen, MJ, Liliana and Tonya.

Sweet dreams, indeed.

*Not pictured in this photo: judges from Gina's Bakery; Montclair Bread Company; and the Little Daisy Bake Shop.

TCOY

1. Last night I got a pound of good roasted veggies at Whole Foods. Had those for late dinner tonight with leftover roast chicken and whole-wheat bread. Felt good to eat something healthy after tasting so many treats today. [We sold them for $1 per slice after judging.]
2. Nap.