Each year, the Good Food Pie Contest packs UCLA’s campus with hopeful bakers and hungry patrons for a full day of pie-themed partying. This year’s event will feature a marketplace of locally made goods, a variety of food vendors, and lots of activities for families attending the day’s festivities! Now, we are pleased to add some notable food world personalities into the mix for this year’s judging panel!
When selecting judges for the contest, it’s always important to strike a balance. The contest requires hungry judges who genuinely love the art of baking but also a thoughtful group to think critically about what makes a first-place pie.
Some of this year’s judges are bakers themselves, raising the stakes for applicants. Brianna Abrams from Winston Pies , Zoe Nathan from Huckleberry and Cleménce Gossett from The Gourmandise School of Sweets & Savories will be looking for a perfectly flaky crust, paired with creative fillings.
Chefs of some of Southern California’s most Instagrammable dining spots will also be taking a look at the more than 400 submitted pies. The likes of Meadow Ramsey from Kismet , Sang Yoon of Lukshon and David LeFevre of Manhattan Beach Post will likely understand the value of a visually appealing masterpiece.
But then, some of this year’s judges are fabulous eaters! Happy, hungry personalities like Phil Rosenthal, creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and star of “ Somebody Feed Phil” will be noshing on contestant’s submissions.
Vegan bakers will also have specialty judges that are well-versed in meat and dairy-free eats! Clara Polito from Clara Cakes and artist and foodie Stacy Michelson will also be dipping their forks into some of the vegan entries.
This year’s judges
Amy Rowat — UCLA
Ann Kirk — Little Dom’s
Annie Miler — Clementine
Brianna Abrams — Winston Pies
Candace Nelson — Sprinkles
Carolina Miranda — LA Times
Christine Moore — Little Flower & Lincoln
Clara Polito — Clara Cakes
Cleménce Gosset — Gourmandise
Dahlia Narvaez — Mozza
David LeFevre — MB Post, Fishing with Dynamite and The Arthur J
Duff Goldman — Cakemix
Gustavo Arellano — KCRW
Isa Fabro — IsaMADE
Jonathan Gold — LA Times
Jonathan Graham — Compartes Chocolatier Gourmet Chocolate
Meadow Ramsey — Kismet
Na-Young Ma — Proof Bakery
Noelle Carter — LA Times
Phil Rosenthal — Somebody Feed Phil
Robert Wemischner — Pastry Instructor LA Trade Tech College
Rose Lawrence — Rustic Canyon
Sang Yoon — Lukshon and Father’s Office
Sarah Lange — Bearclaw Kitchen
Shannon Swindle — Craft
Sherry Yard — iPic
Stacy Michelson — Artist
Zoe Nathan — Huckleberry