My grandfather, Fred Schroeder, was known to say, "There is always room for pie," and he lived by his word. One evening my grandmother served pie for dessert and grandpa cleaned his plate. Shortly thereafter, making a call at a neighbor's, pie was offered. "There is always room for pie!" exclaimed my grandpa and ate a second piece with relish. He was thin always and tall, too, so I thought. Come to find out, years and years later, he was tall only as I saw him, which is the kind of tall that counts.
Judging 41 pies on a hot Sunday morning? A snap. A thrill. An honor. Peter Brett, acclaimed pastry chef and instructor at Stratford University, Susan Wallace, renowned Black Salt pastry chef, and I took on the challenge last week at the Bethesda Central Farm Market. It was a thrill and an honor, but no snap. Wow, that was a lot of pie.
We were cordially invited by Lynn Foster, fellow Tabard Inn alumni, and terrific human being. Thank you, Lynn!