NaNoPieMo will be a little different this year. I have a few reasons for switching it up. One, hello, four years of trying to kill myself? I think the challenge has now been proven that I will survive 30 pies in 30 days, but I also have learned that I need to keep the passion in the project. Two, I have a kitchen renovation starting in a couple of weeks, and it won’t be finished in time for November. Or December, or January, or…. Three, I have always had a dream that combined my pie baking and my writing.
Here’s the dream, that I would get a book contract to travel the world and learn to bake and eat pie in other people’s kitchens. That I would learn how other cultures make their pies. This would probably be mostly savory pies, my fave. But i’m thinking of the empanada, the samosa, the pastilla, and on and on. I want to learn the family recipes passed down for generations. I want to meet other people who find comfort in savory pies as much as I do. Along this journey I imagine myself writing an essay about each pie experience.
Fish Pie in London this summer.
I stopped in a little fish pie shop in London and for the first time had a pie that may compete with my salmon and portobello pie.
I often try to find and taste other pies when I travel. Every culture seems to have some comfort food that fits between two crusts. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savory. I want to try them all in their authentic setting.
Then I realized this dream could come to fruition right here in our little town of San Diego in the City Heights neighborhood where ODI is home. City Heights is the most culturally diverse area of maybe the world. The ODI kids families come from all over, in fact, why don’t I just quote ODI’s website. Thirty-four percent of its population of nearly 85,000 are foreign-born, many of whom are immigrants or refugees. Collectively, the population speaks more than 30 languages. Sounds like the whole world to me. I think the stats should include how many different pies are made there. I plan to find out.
So, we don’t have the plans in place yet for how NaNoPieMo will look, but you will definitely be involved, and you will also get pie (duh), so stay tuned I’ll keep you updated.
In the meantime, that kitchen renovation… next post starts Pie Baker’s Dream Series.