Posted by Laconia Citizen, NH on April 14, 2008 at 10:06:48:
Bake-off celebrates much-loved French-Canadian comfort food
By ERIN PLUMMER
eplummer@citizen.com
Monday, April 14, 2008
Generations of culture were baked into each flaky crust along with the ground pork as the culture of Quebec was celebrated in a pork pie cook-off. The year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec, whose people and culture have made a mark in Laconia.
"We're taking this as an opportunity to celebrate the culture in Laconia," said Jennifer Carroll-Plante, the executive director of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society.
Saturday's contest at the parish hall of Sacred Heart Church had 25 contestants, each required to make two, 9-inch pork pies and serve them to attendees. People paid $5 for six tickets, one for each pie tasting, and then vote for their favorite pie.
The pork pie, also known as a tortiere, is a traditional dish in Quebec and recipes have been passed down for generations.
Shelly Angers of Contoocook grew up in Laconia hearing her father's stories of living in one house on Morrill Street in a large French-Canadian family. The pie, called "Growing up on Morrill Street with 10 kids upstairs and eight kids down tortiere" was a recipe her mother received at 10 "and it has evolved after many years. You have the skill it's not for amateurs."
Shawne Randlett of Laconia used a recipe traditionally made around Christmas and New Years. On Christmas, it would be made "at about one (o'clock) in the morning when you get home from midnight Mass," and the smell would ensure that children would not oversleep on Christmas morning. She did not have a recipe for the pie and had to piece it together.
Jessica Suitter of Laconia made "Jessi's Pie" named after herself.
"I grew up eating my grandmother's," Suitter said. "I asked what was in this and she didn't tell me so I made my own."
The top prize went to the Laconia Village Bakery for the pie made by baker Kevin Halligan named in honor of his wife's great-grandparents Ozias and Rose Roux.
"I made it every year for Christmas Eve," Halligan said. "I sold quite a few of them."
The second runner-up was Linda and Nancy Houle and Kathy Moynihan won third place.
The top three contestants would receive surprise gifts courtesy of the Soda Shoppe, the Tilt'n Diner, the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester. Chef's hats and aprons were also provided by Lakes Region Linen.