National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd in the United States, so let’s explore the long history this versatile style of baking.

Did you know that pies have been around since the Egyptian Neolithic period? The first known recorded recipe for chicken pie was carved on a tablet in ancient Sumeria around 2000 B.C. and was unearthed in part of what is now modern-day Iraq.

Pies today have evolved into a variety of sweet and savory delicacies, but with all of these options, what makes something a pie? There are three major categories of pie and it all has to do with the crust. Pies are defined by their crust, such as a bottom crust pie which has pastry lined on the bottom of the baking dish which is filled with sweet or savory ingredients. A top crust pie has the filling on the bottom and is covered with the crust. A two crust pie has filling surrounded by layers of crust on the top and bottom.

So whether you or your passengers are into sweet or savory pies, be sure to have some pie today. I know I will!

Questions?

If you have any questions about this article or food safety and culinary training, contact me at jdetloff@airculinaire.com. For questions about in-flight catering, contact weborders@airculinaire.com.