SF Food Wars' Pie or Die Sequel Slayed Eaters

Tamara Palmer

Our view from the judges' table.

​We concluded our stint judging SF Food Wars' Pie Or Die Part Deux in a decidedly queasy state, but in much better shape than after last year's inaugural battle. Like 2010's contest, there were 20 different entrants, but this year brought an improvement in overall quality. It surely can't be easy to bake perfect pie for 300 people, and this time people were more successful in baking their crusts correctly. Still, there were underdone as well as burnt contestants, which made the leading contenders and eventually the winners clear by the end of our tasting marathon. We were impressed with the variety of pie delivery methods (stick, cone, personal mini pie), the elaborate-as-a-rule displays, and even the teams who came decked out in costume; standouts included puffy, smiley suns and Betty Crocker-styled competitors.

Missy Buchanan

Peace o' Pie took the judges' top prize and the peoples' honorable mention for their shaker lemon pie.

​SF Food Wars will return to the Ferry Building to host its final event for the year in August; stay tuned for further details on theme, date, and when the tickets go on sale; the latter is very important because these contests sell out faster than the quickest selling concert you can imagine. Let's just say it's going to be hot. And for some luscious pie porn from the Pie or Die event, check out Joseph Schell's slideshow.