You do remember that this Sunday is the Portland Pie-Off, right? It’s only one of the best events in Portland.

Lise and I are getting eager to judge your entry for the CPR Pie category. (You remember, right? The one with ingredients beginning with the letters C, P, and R? You win an awesome t-shirt and a free CPR class if we like yours best!)

We just got our official judging instructions from the Pie Commissioner, and I’m sort of nervous now. I’ve never judged a culinary contest before. It’s different than just eating pie. There are protocols to be followed, like avoiding spicy foods before the tasting and refraining from wearing lotions that might interfere with the olfactory senses.

AND we’ll be judging alongside pie experts, like: Greg Abbott of Whiffies Fried Pie Cart, Tricia Butler of Sassafras Catering (last year’s Pie-Off winner), Joe of Stone Pie Joe’s, and Sarah Curtis-Fawley of Pacific Pie Company. Talk about intimidating!

It’s a good thing our staff picnic dessert contest is on Friday so I can practice my tasting technique.

Portland Pie-Off
Sunday, August 16th, 1:00pm
Peninsula Park (Site B: corners of N. Ainsworth, N. Albina and Rosa Parks Way)

P.S. You can register your pie entry online.

P.P.S. You watch a “mini pie-off” on Friday (8/14) evening on KGW’s Live at 7.

Photo via flickr’s Pop Elegantiarum.