Rockland, Maine's 'Pies on Parade Tour'

[Steve Mirsky]

Who suspected that Rockland, way up in Mid-Coast Maine, is also known as Pie Town USA? Perhaps you’ve heard of Rockland for its extensive Wyeth collection at the Farnsworth Art Museum, its distinctive rocky Penobscot Bayshoreline or succulent lobster boils and majestic Windjammer excursions during summer.

Rockland’s pie claim-to-fame is thanks to Food Network’s Bobby Flay when he paid a visit here for a pie throwdown. Held each year on the second to the last day of January in conjunction with National Pie Day, this year’s 8^th Annual Pies on Parade Pie Tour promises to be bigger than ever. The whole town will go pie crazy on Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 1:00 – 5:00pm when hungry pie eaters converge to sample more than 45 different pies at restaurants and inns throughout town.

Forget your notions of staid apple and pumpkin pies…this pie tour offers up everything from Shepherd’s Pie and a number of gourmet Pizza Pies to sweet and savory Italian Galettes, seafood pies, Whoopie Pies and the signature Key LimeRock Pie at the LimeRock Inn. Of course, for those who still love the age-old classics, look for Apple, Raspberry and Blueberry along with savory egg pies at the Berry Manor Inn and a newly developed Cranberry Apple Pie and a delicious crab quiche at the Granite Inn. Captain Lindsey House will serve their signature Cornish Meat Pasties too. And for those needing to mind their caloric intake, several healthy pies are a part of the lineup as well. Crust made with Fiore olive oil will encase a “Not Too Sweet” Sweet Potato Pie (chosen for the antioxidant qualities of sweet potatoes & gluten free) and a Refined Sugar-free, Lavender, Honey and Yogurt Pie.

If you plan on staying the entire weekend, you better act fast because rooms book up far in advance. The Historic Inns of Rocklandhave created a 2 night Pie Tour package starting at $345:

• Two guaranteed tickets to the biggest pie event in New England
• Two personal pies baked just for you
• One 2012 commemorative Pies on Parade poster
• A $50 Midcoast Money dinner voucher on Saturday at your choice of many area restaurants.
• Top Tips for Surviving the Pie-Fest from veteran Pie Paraders
• Two tickets and exclusive tour of Owls Head Transportation Museum on Saturday where pies will be paired with foreign autos by country of origin 12:15-2:15
• Exclusive tour of Audubon’s Project Puffin Center on Saturday 1/22/12 from 2:30 – 3:00 pm or 3-3:30 pm featuring “Sweet Cream Puff(in) Pastry Pies”
• Invitation to a “Wine and Pie” tasting at the Wine Seller Saturday, from 3:30-5:30 pm with exclusive tasting from 3-3:30 pm
• Complimentary access to Maine Lighthouse Museum opening on Sunday, at 10am featuring “Lite Pies”

Perhaps one day is more manageable on your waist and budget. Tickets for the Inn-to-Inn Tour alone are a bargain at $25 for adults and $10 for children ten and under.

Photo Courtesy of the Historic Inns of Rockland

[Ed Wetschler]

And I hope you enjoy it. The Owls Heat Transportation Event, in particular, looks like a lot of fun. Let us know what you think of the wine-and-pie tasting. 

[Steve Mirsky]

Darn, I'm sorry to hear you can't make it Ed...but fortunately...it's an annual affair. So perhaps next year? And meanwhile, I'll eat some pie for you ;)

[Ed Wetschler]

I'm sorry I can't make it to this event because of a scheduling conflict. Curse you for reminding me why I should have gone.