PUHI — The residents at the Regency at Puakea, a retirement and assisted living facility, are not alone in their choice of a favorite pie on Wednesday, which was National Pie Day. Sharon Lasker, the marketing director for the Regency
PUHI — The residents at the Regency at Puakea, a retirement and assisted living facility, are not alone in their choice of a favorite pie on Wednesday, which was National Pie Day.
Sharon Lasker, the marketing director for the Regency at Puakea, said they conducted an in-house survey among the residents and the overall winner was apple pie.
“We have a lot of true blue Americans here because the vote came back for ‘Apple Pie’ by a landslide,” Lasker said in an email. “To celebrate National Pie Day, we are serving up a slice of homemade apple pie to anyone who wants to stop by between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.”
“Which pie should you choose for your National Pie Day party” is the question posed by the American Pie Council on its website, where it states the apple pie, or one of the 231 varieties, is the favorite of 36 million Americans.
“It always helps when you can celebrate with food,” said Val Rita of Na Kama Pono preschool at the Kaua‘i Community College. “I didn’t know what (food) holiday it was, and because it is chocolate weather today is Chocolate Day.”
The KCC cafeteria, unaware of the national pie celebration, had an offering of its chilled apple-cherry pie with a crumble crust, perfect for the cup of chocolate being offered by Rita.
Sandy Poehnelt of The Right Slice, located in the Puhi Industrial Park, offered free Menehune Bites, available in four flavors — Chocolate Coconut Macaroons, Blueberry Pina Colada, Macadamia Nut and Mango Lilikoi — from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the shop’s normal operating hours. Additionally, pie patrons could sign up for a free pie for a year drawing and other prizes.
Lasker said Regency at Puakea Chef Ryan Theis did more than just bake Apple Crunch Strudel pies. He created additional pies, including creme pies, which were the second favorite pie voted by its residents.
In keeping with the theme of national food celebrations, today is National Peanut Butter Day as well as Lobster Thermidor Day.
Friday is National Irish Coffee Day and Saturday is National Pistachio Day.
For those whose tastebuds aren’t stirred by any of these, there are floating days since January is observed as Bread Machine Baking, National Candy, National Egg, National Hot Tea, National Meat, National Oatmeal, National Soup, National Whole Wheat and Prune Breakfast Month.
Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians, states the APC website. The first pies were made by early Romans who may have learned about it through the Greeks. These early pies were sometimes made in “reeds” which were used for the sole purpose of holding the filling, not for eating with the filling.
Over the years, pie has evolved to become what it is today, “the most traditional American dessert,” states the website. Pie has become so much a part of American culture throughout the years, we now commonly use the term “as American as apple pie.”
Visit www.piecouncil.org for more information on pies and the national pie celebration dates. Visit www.regencypuakea.com for more information on the Regency at Puakea.
