'Mildred Pierce' Pie Social
Local restaurants and caterers provide a feast of pies to benefit Stephen Moser
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., May 2, 2008
'Mildred Pierce' Pie Social
In the early days of my dessert/catering business, I had a young cook friend named Eddie Behrhorst who often helped me in the kitchen. He was a huge Joan Crawford fan and absolutely loved her Oscar-winning performance in Mildred Pierce, where she played a woman who turned a pie business into a successful restaurant. On tough days he would quote lines from the movie, calling me Mildred and referring to himself as Veda (her bratty slut of a daughter). He even christened my car "the pie wagon." I have lots of laughs attached to that campy film-noir classic. Fast-forward to the present day: I have another friend who loves old Joan Crawford movies, and I have the opportunity to use our mutual affinity for Mildred Pierce as a way to raise some money for him when he really needs it.
As many of you may know, my Chronicle colleague Stephen Moser has advanced, inoperable prostate cancer. A group of his female friends, calling ourselves "Stephen's Angels," are raising money for his care and comfort. We're holding the Mildred Pierce Pie Social at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. It's one of their classic movie feasts with a distinctive twist – we'll be serving 20 different kinds of pie donated by area restaurants and caterers, along with Amy's Mexican Vanilla ice cream and coffee from Texas Coffee Traders. We'll have famous local pies such as the Ancho Fudge Pie from Z'Tejas, the Chocolate Ice Box Pie from the Frisco Shop, sweet-potato pie from Hoover's Cooking, and apple pie from Royers in Round Top. Kathy Leverett from R.O.'s Outpost has created a new Jalapeño Dutch Apple Pie just for the occasion, and caterer Suzanne Court is bringing Blood Orange Meringue Pie in a pistachio crust. (Check out the entire menu online.) In addition to classic film and classic pies, Stephen's fabulous collection of Joan Crawford memorabilia will be on sale that day, as well. We hope the Pie Social will appeal to Joan Crawford movie buffs, pie lovers, and Stephen's fans and friends who'd like to help him out. A $30 ticket gets you all that. Join us for pie and a good time on Sunday, May 4, at 2pm. Order tickets online at www.originalalamo.com.
Mildred Pierce Pie Social Menu
Chez Zee: Kahlúa Crunch Pie
R.O.'s Outpost: Jalapeño Dutch Apple Pie
The Frisco Shop: Chocolate Ice Box Pie
Hoover's Cooking: Sweet-potato pie, pecan pie
Lamberts Downtown BBQ: Banana cream pie
Texas Pie Company" Almond Joy pie, fudge pie
Z'Tejas Grill: Ancho Fudge Pie
Kathy McCarty: Strawberry rhubarb pie
Stortini: Rustic Blueberry Pie
Wink: Cherry Pie
Royers Round Top Cafe: Not My Mom's Apple Pie
The Woodland: Coconut cream pie
Texas Culinary Academy: Buttermilk pie, peach pie, lemon meringue pie
Tony Velasco: Blackberry pie
At Home on the Range: Bourbon Pecan Pie, peanut butter pie
Amy's Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream and Texas Coffee Traders Alamo House Blend