It’s time, once again, for The Great Midwestern Pie Championship, the annual pie competition hosted by Honeypie Cafe that seeks to zero in on the best pie makers in the area.
It’s the eighth year for the competition, which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with winners announced right around 3 p.m. (during the 8th Annual Beet Street Block Party). Spectators are invited to observe the judging in process.
The contest is open to both amateur and professional pie makers of all ages who are encouraged to enter their very best pie(s) for consideration. Winners of the competition will qualify for cool prizes, as well as bragging rights that will make you the envy of all of your best pie-loving friends.
Does your pie qualify?
Bakers are allowed to enter any amazing pie (or more than one). However, the following rules apply.
- Pies can be entered in three categories: 1) Best pie with local/regional ingredients; 2) Best fruit pie; 3) Best chocolate pie; Note: All pies will be considered for a fourth category: Best decorated pie (so be sure yours looks pretty!)
- Pies must be 9-10" and made from scratch. Contestants must make their own fillings, crusts, etc.
- More than one pie can be entered; but a separate entry form is required for each pie.
- Pies must be accompanied by a complete ingredient list.
- The person entering the pies in the competition must be the person who made the pies.
All entrants must register for the contest online before midnight on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Pies must be dropped off at Palomino, 2491 S Superior St., between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Additional details, rules and judging criteria are also available online.
Judging and prizes
Each pie will be judged by Honeypie Bakeshop and pie judging teams from local community organizations and businesses.
- Best in Show / Grand Prize: Best In Show Ribbon, $150 Gift Certificate to Honeypie; pie featured as Pie of the Month in January 2024; pie will also move on to compete for Best in the Midwest*!
- Best Decorated: Ribbon, $50 gift certificate to Honeypie
- First Prize (each category): First Place Ribbon, $50 gift certificate to Honeypie
- Second Prize (each category): Second Place Ribbon, $25 gift certificate to Honeypie
- Third Prize (each category): Third Place Ribbon, $15 gift certificate to Honeypie
*An identical pie contest is also being held at Honeypie's sister cafe, Beard & Belly in Chicago. Winners of Best in Show from Milwaukee and Chicago will move on to compete for Best in the Midwest.
Questions? Visit honeypiecafe.com/piechamp.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
