Bakers and Pie Fans From Around the World
Will Savor a Slice of ‘All-American’ Life and Celebrate Their Love Affair With Pie at 20th Annual APC National Pie Championships
Two Major Events Will Showcase Best Original Pie Recipes:
APC National Pie Championships, April 25-27, in Orlando;
APC Great American Pie Festival, April 26-27 in Celebration, Fla.
ORLANDO (March 6, 2014) – It’s a recipe that’s taken two decades to perfect. Bring together bakers of all skill levels, judges and pie fans from around the world, add in a dash of originality, a pinch of competition and a splash of fun, and bake in the warm, Florida sunshine. The end result is an “All-American” celebration like no other featuring close to 100,000 pieces of pie. This April, the American Pie Council® (APC) — America’s only organization dedicated to preserving America’s love affair with pie —will present the 20th Annual APC National Pie Championships, from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Orlando, and the 13th Annual APC Great American Pie Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2014, in nearby Celebration, Fla.
From Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, hundreds of competitors hungry for prizes and bragging rights will gather at the American Pie Council® (APC) National Pie Championships held at the Caribe Royal All-Suite Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando. From the Sunday afternoon family baker to the neighborhood bakery owner, from budding pastry chefs putting a twist on their grandmas’ recipes to the nation’s most experienced commercial bakers — all will gather to determine who bakes America’s very best pies. In conjunction with the pie championships, the APC is also proud to present its APC Great American Pie Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, in nearby Celebration, Fla.
The APC is now accepting entries for the 2014 National Pie Championships from amateur, professional and commercial bakers. Amateur bakers may compete in 16 flavorful categories this year: including traditional favorites like King Arthur Flour Apple, Blueberry, Cream, Peanut Butter, Paramount Pictures “Labor Day” Peach and Chocolate, as well as newer categories such as Gluten-Free/No Sugar and Innovation. Also returning this year is a Pie Learning Center, offering championship attendees pie-baking tips and instruction by leading industry professionals and pastry chefs.
Last year, the prestigious pastry bake-off drew more than 441 commercial, 115 professional and 237 amateur entries for an astounding total of 793 pies in the quest to find America’s top bakers. Commercial winners took home bragging rights and the promise of greater sales, while winners in all other categories received plenty of dough, as in cash and prizes. This year’s competition is expected to be even more heated with the commercial competition being sponsored by Duncan Hines Globe. The professional competition, sponsored by Albert Uster Fine Foods, will be offering a trip to Switzerland as its Best of Show prize. Entry forms and pie categories for each division are available on the APC website www.piecouncil.org. Entry is $15 per pie for amateur APC members, $35/non members, and each entrant receives an Emile Henry pie dish. Please see website for membership information, as well as professional and commercial entry costs.
Pie lovers are also invited to apply to be a judge at the prestigious competition. Last year, 195 esteemed pie aficionados from all over the world lent their time and taste buds to nibble on more than 800 pies. No previous judging or baking experience is required; applicants need only explain why they would like to be a judge.
Hundreds of volunteers are also needed to help make the championships and the APC Great American Pie Festival in Celebration, Fla. run as easy as….well, pie. Those interested in applying to volunteer may indicate the shifts or duties they prefer to work by filling out an application online at www.piecouncil.org by Tuesday, April 22, 2014.
For overnight hotel accommodations, the Caribe Royal is offering a special rate of $129 per night for those competing in or attending the APC National Pie Championships or the APC Great American Pie Festival. To receive this special rate, guests must mention the event by name. Reservations may be made by calling 888-258-7501 or booking online at http://ow.ly/viZ5x.
For more information about the Caribe Royal, visit www.thecaribeorlando.com.
“In 20 years, we’ve seen and tasted some of the most flavorful and unique pies from across America, and yet every year, we continue to be surprised and delighted at the creativity presented by the competitors,” said Linda Hoskins, Executive Director, American Pie Council. “No matter if they are amateurs hoping to compete for the first time, or professionals who’ve been entering for years, it’s an exciting time right now knowing they are testing and re-testing their best pie recipes, preparing them for the national spotlight. We can’t wait to see what mouth-watering creations will be presented this year.”
More than 39,000 pie lovers from across the globe are expected to descend upon Celebration, Fla. on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 for the APC Great American Pie Festival. The increasingly popular, free admission festival returns with all the activities that have made it a family favorite, including the Duncan Hines Comstock/Wilderness Pie Creation Station, where everyone can get creative and make their own pie, as well as the pie tin decorating activity for art lovers of all ages, and the Pietopia Demonstration Stage sponsored by Village Inn and Bakers Square Restaurants, featuring entertainment and baking demonstrations with chefs from across the country. Always a crowd favorite, the kids’ and adults’ pie eating contests return this year, once again sponsored by Private Selection.
The highlight of the festival is the Never Ending Pie Buffet, which last year featured an astounding 90,000 slices of pie as well as ice cream, toppings and beverages from America’s best known commercial bakers. The buffet and the children’s activities are the only paid events at the festival. All stage entertainment and demonstrations are free. Tickets to the Pie Buffet are $10 for adults (ages 13+); and $5 for seniors (over age 65) and children (ages 6-12) to enjoy all they care to eat and drink.
The festival will be held at Lakeside Park at 631 Sycamore St. in downtown Celebration, Florida 34747. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 26; Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 27. Admission to the festival is free, but some events require tickets that can be purchased onsite at the festival. For more information, visit the Front Porch Celebration Community at www.celebration.fl.us or the American Pie Council® www.piecouncil.org.
Those interested in updates on the latest news concerning the pie championships, pie festival or pie news can follow the American Pie Council on Facebook and Pinterest and on Twitter at FYPie.
The American Pie Council® is the only organization committed to maintaining America’s pie heritage, passing on the tradition of pie-making and promoting America’s love affair with pie. The APC offers personal, professional and commercial memberships. For more information, please visit www.piecouncil.org.
