Pie Palooza

press release: On Sunday, October 22, REAP Food Group will serve more than 1,000 slices of pie from more than 20 local restaurants and bakeries at the 13^th Annual Pie Palooza brunch at Goodman Community Center. Funds raised at Pie Palooza support REAP’s work connecting kids and chefs to farmers in Southern Wisconsin.

“When we put our dollars towards local and sustainable food systems, it ensures the freshest products get to our customers’ plates,” says Short Stack Eatery’s owner Alex Lindenmeyer. “Short Stack Eatery makes supporting groups like REAP a priority to ensure that local and sustainable food systems get the exposure and funding they need to build a better environment and increase wages for farmers.”

Each pie at the event highlights Wisconsin farmers and food producers. Short Stack Eatery is making a savory pie for the event using shiitake mushrooms from Indian Farms (Jamie Ramsey), fresh herbs from Winterfell Acres (Beth Wright), and baby swiss from Carr Valley Cheese. Heritage Tavern is creating a sweet Maple Custard Pie with maple syrup from Amish farms, cornmeal from J. Henry & Sons and crème fraiche from Sassy Cow Creamery.

For those craving a more savory slice, Beans n’ Cream Coffeehouse is making a pie of entirely local ingredients. Their Sausage and Roasted Potato Quiche is made with flour from Great River Milling Co., eggs from Yuppie Hill Poultry, potatoes from Emerald Meadows, sausage from Twisted Oaks Farm, local cheese, and milk from Sassy Cow Creamery. For a gravity-defying pie, try Graze’s Upside Down Apple pie made with local apples and maple syrup.

As the farm to table movement continues to explode, real relationships between farmers and chefs are more important than ever.

“We are so fortunate to be a booming urban area surrounded by sustainable farms and award-winning local producers,” says REAP’s Executive Director Helen Sarakinos. “It’s logical to keep our food dollars local and to celebrate a climate solution at the end of our forks."

Pie Palooza is Sunday, October 22 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Goodman Community Center in Madison. See the full list of pies and buy event tickets at www.reapfoodgroup.org/pie. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Each ticket includes two slices from a wide variety of mouth-watering pies/quiches/and more, a farm-fresh salad, Sassy Cow ice cream, coffee from Just Coffee and milk or juice. Pie for a Year from Hubbard Avenue Diner and Dairy for a Year from Organic Valley are up for grabs in the Pie Palooza raffle. Whole pies will be available for sale at the event until sold out.

Visit www.reapfoodgroup.org/pie for updates on pie bakers and flavors to be featured. The event is sponsored by Lauer Realty Group, Roth Cheese, Isthmus, Community Shares of Wisconsin, Just Coffee Co-op, Sassy Cow Creamery, and Baraboo Woodworks.

For over 20 years, REAP Food Group has worked throughout Southern Wisconsin to provide access to fresh, local food to the entire community. REAP is the official Farm to School partner of the Madison Metropolitan School District. REAP’s Buy Fresh, Buy Local program helps restaurants and institutions purchase and serve local food. For more information, call (608) 310-7836 or visit www.reapfoodgroup.org.