Cake vs. Pie: The Results Are In

The flour has settled and the results are in from Jenise Silva's Cake vs. Pie Rematch.

The stage was set for this historic rematch of epic baking proportion with well over 100 people packing the house at this year's venue, Vermillion (also known Seattle's new center for the alternative arts). The "battle for the best" went down to the final round with 12 pies staring down 11 cakes (one cake had to bow out at the last minute due to a "flour, sugar and butter emergency") from across the room.

The three judges, Chef Neil Robertson (Canlis ,Mistral), Chef Carrie Mashaney (Café Juanita, Spinasse) and Cody Ellerd Bay (Seattle Magazine) had a tough job at hand with some of Seattle's finest bakers bringing their best, and most beautiful, confections together that have ever shared a room in this city. And in the end it would be just one point that separated many of the winners.

As the judges tallied their score cards the crowd mixed and mingled while sampling the baked creations (not to mention drinks mixed up by Vermillion that tasted exactly like chocolate cake and key lime pie) that had everyone buzzing - literally.

Here's just a taste of what this impressive group of bakers brought to the table at this year's Cake vs. Pie:

• White Bottom Blackberry Ricotta Pie


• Irish Carbomb Cake


• Bourbon Butterscotch Cream Pie


• Russian Anthill Cake


• Honey Thyme Apple Pie


• Chocolate Pumpkin Cake with Caramel Glaze

An hour into the night, the crowd grew silent as Seattlest's own Jenise took to the stage to announce the winners. Would pie hold onto its championship title from last year or would cake bounce back to claim this year's top prize?

It was clear that the crowd was eager to hear the results as they provided their own drum roll leading up to the big announcement.

Even though a straw poll taken by those attending the event showed allegiance to Team Cake trumping Team Pie 56 to 50, it was ultimately pie that reclaimed its bragging rights for one more year as the winner of Cake vs. Pie Rematch 2011.

For those of you keeping score at home, here are the final results. Gluten Free nation take note: a GF Ibizza Chocolate Cake landed in one of the top spots this year.

Best of Show and 1st place Pie
Barbara Schwartz: Apple Pear Pie

1st place cake
Erica Anpo: Coconut/Passion Fruit Cake

2nd place cake
Nazila Merati: Ibarra Chocolate (gluten free)

2nd place pie
Kate Lebo: Whiskey Apple Pie

3rd place cake
Pia Johns: Chocolate Suicide - Kill Me Quick Cake

3rd place pie
Rose del Rio: 'Baker Street Plum' - Honeyed Plum w/Basil

After the prize donors were given a shout out (and there were many including Bob's Red Mill, Metropolitan Grill, Joey Veltkamp, Diem Chau, Glazers Camera and Seattle Magazine) and only crumbs were left in the baker’s pans the night came to a reluctant close.

As bakers streamed out onto the sidewalk with bags of flour in hand and butter tucked in their bags it was clear that everyone walked away a winner. Cake and Pie bakers and enthusiasts were striking up new friendships and appreciation for each other…well, until next year when they mitt up once again and face off for the top prize in next year's Cake vs. Pie rematch 2012.

And don’t forget - there’s still time to enter the Cake vs. Pie photography contest. The deadline is October 14 and you can check out all of the details here.