What does your life taste like? In any given moment, the flavors can change, meld, swirl, and morph. But concentrate on just that one moment. Maybe you can’t help it–that one moment has been all consuming for you and your thoughts for quite some time now. Or maybe you’d rather pluck that one particular flavor out of life’s-stream-of-many to discern, to hold, and to savor. People ask me, “what is your pie?” and my answer is always the same, “which day?”
Pietopia, on all fronts, was a success this year. It was fun, it was quite big, and there was a ton of pie. However, I’ve realized that the definition of success for myself doesn’t necessarily lie in any of these outward factors. Instead, it’s success lies in what this contest has taught me these past three years. Pietopia has been a lesson in illuminating the vast potential, complexity, and beauty of human life.
Not long ago, a friend of mine hit the nail on the head by saying, “there are THREE things certain in life: death, taxes, and uncertainty in itself.” So much of life is uncertain that there really is no time to dwell on the fact that we just don’t know what exactly is going to happen at any given moment. Sure, we can plan, project, and create frameworks, but in the end, do we ever really know how things will turn out? This is where human potential (and complexity) comes in. We all have the ability to grasp those unpleasant or life-altering situations by the horns and grow–embracing them by finding a sense of purpose, having faith, and getting through them with grace, gratitude and finding an unexpected richness in life. Shit happens. And we all know this from experience! But what Pietopia has shown me is that people do indeed take hold of their lives and turn the bitter moments into moments sweet with new knowledge, maturity, and experience.
I’ve been waiting for a terrible tasting pie and have yet to see one entered. This may be because it’s hard for many to imagine submitting and winning for a “bad-pie”, or we have been trained sub-consciously through cultural grooming that pie contests are delicious, or people genuinely do find the good and beauty amidst life’s hardships. There is a conundrum of learning from life’s hardships: when things do get hard, many people tend to lean more towards rigidity–to find that control–than simply letting go, allowing themselves to think outside of the box for a moment, and moving forward. And there is a reason for this–sometimes we just need to hold on a little longer to get to the heart of what it is we are learning for ourselves. I wanted to take this regular, human process and make learning from ourselves more accessible to our selves. Pietopia creates a playful structure that gives people room for deep contemplation and self-connection, that also satisfies all our needs to grow during a time of hardship or great joy. I love the reflective nature of the stories, built in with something so tangible like taste. And I love that people embrace this concept with me!
I am happy for Pietopia not only because we raffled off a ton of pies so wonderfully donated by a few lovely local bakeries (so much fun), but because the contest celebrates our lives as they are. Here and now. In the present. In all their imperfect and beautiful glory. Sometimes our present situations really are hard to swallow, much less someone else’s. But it is interesting. Imagine the feast that could unfold if everyone approached the table with the flavors of their lives, ready for each other to consume, commune, and connect through.
You can find the winning stories and recipes of Margit Beerlie, Caroline Ford, and Hannah Kane by clicking on their names. I had been writing a series for the semi-finalists, and it turned out that the first three pies I made for the semi-finalists series, also happened to be the winners! Those stories and recipes were compelling not only for me, but the judges as well.
22×30 silk-screen and watercolor print, by Karen Berger.
The art work this year was stunning. Vanessa Kauffman, Robin Miliken, and Karen Berger’s prints are breath taking–if you’d like one, take a look at the Eating Is Art shop, they’re on sale there. Chris Baskin out did himself with some of the most beautiful pie plates imaginable. He donated enough for the winners, but make sure you take a look at the rest of his beautiful collection on his website. In the end, I feel blessed, excited, and exhausted. It was a great event, but also I’m looking forward to being able to focus more on the personal and individualized work I do with my clients at Joyful Life Wellness.
22×30 silk-screen print, by Robin Miliken.
22×30 silk-screen print, by Vanessa Kauffman.
Plates by Chris Baskin.
The other night, I had the great pleasure of meeting up with some fellow food bloggers, restaurant owners, and chefs. A new friend of mine, Joshua Chang of PDXploration, invited me to Taste Unique for a wonderful private meal. This is a gem of a restaurant here in town–it’s tiny size makes it a wonderful, intimate setting for small private dinners, perfect for take-out lunch, oh and they have a well stocked freezer so you can take home a home-made lasagna with a tiramasu, made by the owners Stephania and Lawrence themselves. Made with love, of course.
The menu was traditional Sicilian–unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before! I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Italy yet (yet being the key word here) so all of my Italian food experiences I’m sure have come with a bit of an American slant. Stephania was born and raised in Italy and her husband Lawrence is American. They lived in Rome together for many years, but after their first child, realized they wanted out of the city hustle and bustle and decided to try Portland. Their mutual love of good food and cooking was met with open arms here in Portland (have I mentioned this is a pretty foodie place ? 
) and within a year of moving, they opened up their little Italian storefront, Taste Unique.
We had a five course meal that was fantastic. First was an appetizer called Sfincione Palermitano– a special focaccia made with onions, Pecorino, breadcrumbs and tomatoes. Then we had Pasta ‘Ncatenata Rigatoni with broccoli, crushed peppers and anchovies. This pasta packed a little heat (via hot pepper flakes) which was a fantastic compliment to the broccoli and Parmesan. Next there was the Sarde Beccafico, a dish of baked stuffed sardines. This dish, we were told, has a long preparation time and is one of Sicily’s most famous traditions. The fish was served next to Bastaddu Affucatu, or cauliflower cooked ‘drowned’ in red wine with olives, anchovies and pecorino. And finally, for dessert we had fresh Cannoli Siciliana with pistachio and chocolate. Delicious.
Sfincione Palermitano
Pasta ‘Ncatenata Rigatoni
Sarde Beccafico
Sicilian Canoli
I had a great time meeting the owners of Gladstone Pizza, one of Portland’s best kept secret pizza places! I had tried their pizza about a month ago and really enjoyed it–it was nice to put faces to that deliciousness. I also met the Chef’s behind the foodcart Garden State–apparently they make one of the best meatball hero’s ever, I need to give them a try for sure! And it was so nice to meet the writers of the food blogs Good Stuff NW and Foodrighter!
Stephania and Lawrence, Taste Unique Owners and Chefs
This fun gathering couldn’t have been held in a better place–when I think of Italy, I think of family gatherings, good food, good people, conversation, and it all lasting for hours and hours lingering over the last bit of wine and coffee–which is precisely how it all went down. And I now have a list of new places I need to try here in town– can’t wait to taste my way through them! Thanks again for the fantastic evening!
Cheers 
