Broward County residents donned aprons and toques on Friday to participate in a pie production line at Lenore Nolan-Ryan Cooking School and Catering’s Lauderdale-by-the-Sea location. Owner Nolan-Ryan created the activity after learning about the American Pie Council’s National Pie Day, which was Saturday.
“The pie association was talking about Pie-triotism, and that seemed to be on such a national level that I thought about [a way] we could bring it to our community,” said Nolan-Ryan, who added that she and her team delivered donated pies to local residents throughout the day. “We want to give to those who have always given to us, like the military, firemen, policemen, or even someone you haven’t met who you admire for what they’ve done in the community.”
Nolan-Ryan promoted the event through Facebook, Twitter, and direct email blasts to her cooking school and catering clients. Nearly 40 people ordered the specially priced $5 pies and another 30 signed up to participate in the production line, inspired by the “Job Switching” episode of I Love Lucy, when Lucy and Ethel work in the chocolate factory. Customers could choose from five pie fillings: apple, apple-guava, apple and five spices, apple-cranberry, and apple-chocolate chunk.
Each pie order included a complimentary scoop of cinnamon ice cream donated by Cold Stone Creamery & Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.