The perfect formula for pi(e) is found ... in tiny Brookfield

PIES OVER POLITICS: From left, Executive Councilor Michael Cryans, Gov. Chris Sununu, Best Amateur Pie winner Debbi Shellhase, N.H. Farm Museum Executive Director Kagen Weeks and museum volunteer Susan Gaudette (Rochestere Voice photos)

MILTON - This was a day no one was heard to say, "Shut your pie hole!"

Why? Cause everyone was busy stuffing it with pie.

It was, of course, the 11^th Annual Great NH Pie Festival, tastier than ever, with mouths wide open enjoying award-winning pies from all over the state and beyond.

When all was said and done and eaten, the tiny town of Brookfield (pop. 700) incredibly took home both amateur and commercial Best of Show honors, with Debbi Shellhase and SeaBrisket Bakery taking the top spots, respectively.

Shellhase's winning confection was a maple cream pumpkin pie, which placed first in the nonapple fruit division. It was then judged among the other division winners by a panel including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Executive Councilor Michael Cryans and Farm Museum bookkeeper and volunteer Susan Gaudette to win best amateur pie.

From left, Libby Triadou, of Sanford, and Dalcey Miller, of Pittsfield look over a plethora of pies prior to judging at Sunday's Great NH Pie Festival at the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton.

Shellhase said the secret to her pie's good fortune was the crust she made using her grandmother's secret recipe. Asked the secret ingredient she replied, "lots of love."

The pies were judged using several criteria, including the quality of filling, crust, appearance and overall taste.

Gov. Sununu, who admitted to being somewhat of a pie fanatic who baked his share of pies for family and friends, said he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of pies entered in the contest and their quality.

"The volume of pies and quality of pies is incredible," he said. "And it was great bouncing off ideas and getting ideas from the bakers who are here."

New Hampshire Farm Museum Kagen Weeks said the pie festival gets bigger and bigger every year, drawing amateur bakers from around New England and commercial bakers from as far away as Hanover, Weare and Nashua.

He said with the amount of pies they had it took about an hour and a half for the judges to taste and grade all the entries.

Two eventgoers enjoying their first excursion to the festival included Libby Triadou of Sanford, Maine, and Dulcey Miller of Pittsfield.

"I can't believe how many pies there are," said Miller, adding she'd be tasting some from each of the categories.

Meanwhile, Triadou said she was looking forward to tasting the apple pie entries.

Complete list of event winners and sponsors.

Grand Prize

Debbi Shellhase

Maple Cream Pumpkin Pie-

with maple whip pie crust is my nana's recipe. The pie has maple syrup in the pie and whip cream. The pie crust maple leaves are egg washed and sprinkled with maple sugar.

The People's Choice Best Pie Bakery is:

Seabrisket Bakery

Brookfield, NH

Pies Available at Wakefield Farmers Market and Wolfeboro Winter Market.

Apple

1st Place:

Matt Morrill

Apple 2nd Place:

Debbi Shellhouse

Apple 3rd Place:

Stacey Hellyer

Non-Apple Fruit 1st Place:

Debbi Shellhase, (Maple Cream Pumpkin Pie)

Non-Fruit 2nd Place:

Russel Moyer (Tarte Lemon Snap Crust)

Non-Fruit 3rd Place:

Ken Markin (Key Lime /w Ginger Snap Crust)

Savory

1st Place:

Elisa Britton, (Heirloom Tomato and Herbed Goat Cheese Pie)

Savory 2nd Place:

Wendy Binette (Pork Pie)

Savory 3rd Place:

Tracey Russo, (Pork Pie)

Non-Fruit

1st Place:

Melissa Cunliffe (Gimme S'more Chocalate Mouse)

Non-Fruit 2ndt Place:

Heidi Rodenhuis (Lena's Lemon Meringue)

Non-Fruit 3rd Place:

#37 (please call Kagen: "I think I handed the entry form to the winner with prize: msg us with name please!!!!!!)"

Teen

1st Place:

Nicolas Pellano (Cinnamon Roll Apple)

Teen 2nd Place:

Abigail Oberto, (Apple)

Teen 3rd Place:

Jordyn Crisanaz, (Apple)

Child

1st Place:

Amelia Stover, (Apple)

2nd Place:

Iris Jurkiewicz, (Peach Bumble Berry)

Child 3rd Place:

Angie LeBlanc, (Apple)

Thank you to our prize sponsors:

Peterbourough Pie Basket for the grand prize basket,

King Arthur Flour for one $100 gift card, and five $50 cards,

Salmon Falls Pottery for the custom festival pie plate,

McKenzie's for two apple picking/pumpkin gift cards, and a cider donut gift card.

Advanced Auto Parts Rochester for bucket of winterizing supplies,

Pink house for two $10 gift cards and two $5 gift cards.

The People's Choice Best Pie Bakery is:

Seabrisket Bakery

Brookfield, NH

Honorable Mention:

Live Free or Pie Stand

Hampstead, NH

Great pies enjoyed from:

Demeritt Hill Farm,

Stonehouse,

Dustin's,

Butternut Farms,

Johnson's,

Harvey's,

Yum Yum Shop,

Ceres Bakery,

Lou's

Saxy Chef,

Wicked Good Bakery,

Just Like Mom's Pasteries