Oxford, Miss. (TLV) - When you think “pie contest” you don’t usually think “high drama.” But things are different here in Oxford, where a quiet morning at the Farmer’s Market can become a swirling whirlpool of suspicion.
As was reported by The Local Voice last summer in issue #7, Carly Grace has been dutifully trying to win the Mid Town Farmer’s Market Pie Contest for several years. She placed second in 2004 with her “Tomato Pie,” her “Apple Zucchini Pie” was a no go in ’05, with tomato pies winning first and second place. And last year she had to settle for second again with her “American Pie”.
I ran into her the night before the contest, which was held Saturday, July 15th.
“Saturday. Farmer’s Market. Victory is mine.” That’s all she said. And even though she was drinking tequila and giggling maniacally, her words conveyed the weight of her mission.
On Saturday morning I met Carly next to the judging tent. The judges were carefully and methodically sampling the eight pies, taking swigs from water bottles after bites from each. People were milling around, buying farm raised eggs, jumbo gulf coast shrimp, fresh vegetables, and fresh flowers in vibrant pinks, yellows, and reds. Carly was chewing her nails and playing with her dog who was walking in circles on the end of his leash.
“Mornin’,” she said. “This is my dog Moon Pie. Damn it’s hot. And I’m sleepy.”
I knelt down, scratched Moon Pie behind the ears, and agreed that it was hot and that I hoped the judges would announce the winners before we both had to run through some sprinklers on North Lamar. She told me she had entered a pie called “Moon Pie Squared” in honor of her beloved dog.
We didn’t have to wait too long. The judges climbed out of a mini van parked next to the tent where they had been enjoying the air conditioning and tabulating the results.
Third place and second place were announced, and Carly, having not been called yet, drew in a sharp breath next to me.
First place went to Peter Cleary for his Key Lime Pie. I turned to Carly as she exhaled and laughed. The winner, wearing a “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt, kissed babies and high-fived his smiling, clapping supporters.
Carly shrugged good-naturedly and joined in on the celebration.
Out of the side of her mouth she whispered, “Well this has been awesome. I’m outta here.”
We said our goodbyes and then she began to walk away, giving the leash a tug.
“C’mon Moon Pie. We’re going to the pound.”
The following Thursday Carly called and asked if I’d seen the article written by one of the pie contest judges in another local newspaper. I hadn’t, and I swung by the Square on my way home from a calorie burning five-mile jog to talk to her about it.
“Can you believe this?” she asked. She opened the paper and stabbed her finger into the middle of the story.
“This years competition included eight of the tastiest and most original pies around,” it read. It went on to list them:
“Blueberry, Buttermilk, Pineapple Delight, Lemon Almond Delight, Key Lime Pie, Fresh Tomato Tart, and Blueberry Surprise.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Seven out of eight pies had been named. “Moon Pie Squared” wasn’t even mentioned! Carly and I both agreed, naming forty-eight out of fifty pies could be viewed as a simple oversight, but seven out of eight? That seemed suspicious indeed. Has she done something to piss off the Pie Gods, or is the problem less hokey and closer to home?
“You know, my niece won her 4-H pie baking contest earlier this year with a key lime pie,” Carly dryly remarked. “She’s twelve now. Maybe she could teach me some tricks.”
I know you, the loyal readers of The Local Voice, will naturally draw your own conclusions. I urge you to remain vigilant, eat lots of sweets, and enjoy the rest of your summer.
