HYDE PARK — Bakers will need to up their pie game for an intimidating panel of judges for the fourth annual South Side Pie Challenge.
Some of the top chefs to open restaurants in Hyde Park will judge this year’s bake-off from 2-5 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, 5840 S. Kenwood Ave.
The annual competition pits neighborhood bakers against each other for the best pie in five categories: fruit, nut, cream and pumpkin or sweet potato.
It’s hard to tell who will be the hardest of the eight judges to impress this year.
Art Jackson, owner of Pleasant House Bakery and master of the English savory pie, would seem to be the one to watch out for. But Yoshi Yamada of Lula Cafe and Blackbird or perhaps Matt Sliwinski, chef de cuisine at the Promontory might have the pickiest palate.
Kirsten Esterly of Medici; Cliff Rome of H-Dogs and Rome's Joy Catering; Belinda Brooks, pastry chef and instructor at the Kendall College Culinary School; Jan Holt of The Standard Club; and Fabiana Carter of Fabiana's Bakery round out the panel.
There is a $25 registration fee for each category. After the official judging, slices are sold for $3 each.
All proceeds benefit the Hyde Park and Kenwood Hunger Programs food bank.
To register, visit southsidepie.com.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: