Tasty Chomps' Orlando

• Interview with Kate McDermott, Art of the Pie
• Taste of Winter Park 2017

Interview with Kate McDermott, Art of the Pie

Kate McDermott, who learned to bake pie from her own Iowa grandmother, has taught the time-honored craft to thousands through her Pie Camps and workshops. In her first book, she offers a lifetime of secrets, pie wisdom, and good advice. (Step one: keep everything chilled, including yourself.)

ART OF THE PIE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HOMEMADE CRUSTS, FILLINGS, AND LIFE by Kate McDermott is now a nominee for the 2017 James Beard Awards in Baking & Desserts.
ART OF THE PIE has been receiving accolades since its publication—it was named one of 2016’s best cookbooks, “a new baking bible” (Wall Street Journal) and “one of the best books ever written on the subject.” (Publisher’s Weekly). It was nominated for two IACP awards, including one for the extraordinary photos from the New York Times’ Andrew Scrivani.

We had a chance to interview her recently via e-mail!

Tell us about yourself and background.
I’ve always been fortunate to do things I love to make a living and support my family. For decades I worked in the field of professional music, first as an accompanist and then as a teacher and coach. All the while I baked and cooked. When I’m not in my kitchen baking a pie to give away or teaching piemaking, I love to garden, sew, knit, read, and take walks with my sweet dog Gretapie.

· What inspired you to start baking and cooking?
As a little girl I was very fortunate to have baking mentors, including my grandmother and neighbors, all of whom inspired and encouraged me. There was never any right way or wrong way to do things and we celebrated my successes as well as my more creative experiments…a/k/a “failures.” Of course I really enjoyed the edible results! As years went by I found great joy in baking for others. I was usually the one who would bring cakes and cookies to school for birthdays or just because.

· What are your first childhood food memories?
I’m a little embarrassed to say that my first food memories were not all that great. I was not fond of over cooked vegetables when I was a little girl and remember sitting at the table pushing green mush around on my plate until I had taken the required number of bites so I could run outside to play.

· What were some of your favorite dishes to cook growing up and now?
I still love baking chocolate chip cookies, scones, muffins, and of course homemade bread. Growing up in Southern California I was introduced to excellent Mexican food and I make some pretty darn good enchiladas!

· What are some pro-tips for aspiring bakers that you’d like to give?

• Recipes are starting places but be sure to try it once as written before changing it.
• Use the freshest and most flavorful ingredients you can find especially for seasonal fruit pies.
• In pie making it is important to keep everything chilled, including the fats, your hands, and your environment.
• Make enough to give away to friends and neighbors and enjoy your time in the kitchen.

· What are some of your favorite recipes that can be found in the book?
Chicken pot pie, shepherds pie, apple pie, sour cherry pie, chai pie, and my very favorite peach pie.

· Favorite dish to bake ever?
Besides pie? Home-baked bread!

Purchase “ART OF THE PIE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HOMEMADE CRUSTS, FILLINGS, AND LIFE
” on Amazon here.

Taste of Winter Park 2017

Winter Park’s Ultimate Foodie Festival

The 32nd Annual Taste of Winter Park takes place on Wednesday, April 19, 2017!
Taste of Winter Park showcases more than 40 of Central Florida’s top chefs, bakers, caterers and confectioners for a fun evening at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market. All-inclusive tickets feature unlimited samples of signature dishes, refreshing beverages and decadent desserts.
Top off the evening with live entertainment from saxophonist Johnny Mag Sax, raffle drawing and more!

Event Date

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
5 – 8 p.m.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market, 200 E. New England Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789

Event Details

Taste of Winter Park features popular eateries and new destinations sure to become your new favorite. Vendors must be members of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce in order to participate.

32nd Annual Taste of Winter Park Participants

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Another Broken Egg Café
Antonella’s Pizza
Bailey’s Coffee Service
Barnie’s Coffee & Tea
Ben & Jerry’s
Blaze Pizza
Boi Brazil Churrascaria
Brewstillery/ The Bear and Peacock Brewery
Bulla Gastrobar
Cocina214
Costco Wholesale
Create Your Nature
Florida Distributing
Gator’s Dockside Baldwin Park
Heathrow Country Club + Legacy Club
Hunger Street Tacos
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
John and Shirley’s Catering
Kona Grill
Luke’s Kitchen and Bar
Luma on Park
Maestro Cucina Napoletana
Mellow Mushroom
New Moon Market
Olde Hearth Bread Company
Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park
Prato
Publix Supermarkets Inc.
Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen & Bar
Rubio’s Coastal Grill
Scotchie’s “Delivering Celebrations”
Square 1
Sweet Tomatoes
Swine Family Restaurant Group
T.R. Fire Grill
The Gourmet Cuisine at Rollins College
Tijuana Flats Tex-Mex
Umi Japanese Restaurant
Wayne Densch
Whole Foods Market
Zona Fresca
4 Rivers Smokehouse

Raffle Prizes
This year our raffle prizes include 2 Dine Around Winter Park packages, featuring discounts and gift cards for our participating vendor restaurants. More information and additional prizes coming soon!

Tickets

The admission fee is $40 for Winter Park Chamber members and $50 for general admission.
Option to purchase a group of 10 tickets at a discounted rate for $350.
Tickets ordered in advance will be available at Will Call beginning at 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Prices are all-inclusive and tickets cannot be returned, refunded or exchanged. Event held rain or shine. Must be 21 and up to attend.
Buy tickets here:

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