Teeny Pies

The last few days I’ve been outlining stories from the beginning of the tour of pie, trying to recall how I came to the decision to leave the comfort of my Chicago life in order to go on the most epic of adventures. I remember going to the culinary institute with my friend Jenn for a tour, and trying to decide if I wanted to simply go to pastry school or if there was a more inventive way to go about spending all of my money, baking all the while. Clearly, despite how fun it would have been, pastry school fell by the wayside and I decided to lend myself out as an apprentice. I recall agonizing over the first few drafts of my ‘pie proposal of epic proportions’ that I ended up sending to thirty or so pie shops in all. It took me a few weeks to realize that most bakers didn’t really read emails, which is when I had to start cold calling bakeries and occasionally sweet talking (badgering) my way into becoming an apprentice. 

It’s incredible to think about then and now. I’m friends with so many of the people from each of my pie stops, I’ve made some very serious pies, I’ve been all over, including several states I’d never been to before, and I finally feel like a baker. baker writer. baker writer photographer traveller. What I’m saying is, it’s so nice to leave something comfortable, take a huge leap of faith, and have your life rise up and answer with a resounding yes! It’s also really fun to recall the very start of it all. 

a tiny pie pumpkin in a CSA. birthday pies. teeny pies for a miniature Peter Pan. a pie proposal that has led to the most amazing apprenticeships. what a lovely little journey so far and certainly never a dull moment. Right now it’s time for blueberries in Boston.