Pies and π
Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter; its name and symbol derived from the lowercase Greek letter π, sometimes spelled out as pi.
If you remember that part of math, go ahead and figure it out – but the only pie diameters we're interested this season are for the ones with an 'e' at the end.
Basically, most holiday pies, and most pies for that matter, are nine inches in diameter. (Unless you get big ones at Costco or somewhere similar.)
This Christmas we have more bakeries creating interesting holiday desserts, with some who previously made them dropping out of the pie-making scene.
Ramekins is not making pies for Christmas this year. And Teen Services' Lovin' Oven will not make pies as they do at Thanksgiving, but are making cookies to gift to members and volunteers, who are also making the hundreds of cookies.
Here are a few local holiday desserts and their bakers:
Jen Demarest, with vast baking and pastry experience via the family's Harvest Moon Café among other top restaurants, will make almond cranberry star bread, chocolate chestnut roulade, apple cranberry pie and a 6-inch chocolate peppermint layer cake ($23 to $38) for the holiday. All orders must be pre-paid by Dec. 18. Order at Demarest's booth at the Friday farmers market near Depot Park or via Jenharvestmoon@gmail.com. Pick up at Harvest Moon Café Sunday, Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jen and Nick Demarest have hired Kevin Lely to remodel the former Rocket space on Highway 12 in the Springs into their Baker & Cook bakery, café and retail shop, hopefully to be ready in two months. Lely now specializes in restaurant remodels and oversaw the recent Mint and Liberty renovations.
Crisp Bakeshop, Andrea Koweek's establishment, is now part of the Girl & the Fig. Koweek was Sonoma's breakout baker and now offers even better goodies such a Bûche de Noel, a White Christmas Cake, Derby Pie, Sonoma Apple Pie, pumpkin cheesecake, petite eggnog cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes and chocolate chunk sea salt cookies. Pies and cakes $36 to $50; cookies and cupcakes $12 for four to six pieces. Order by 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 at figcaters.com, click on crisp bakeshop; pick up at the Rhône Room Dec. 22 and 23 noon to 5 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 20816 Broadway, Sonoma.
Honey & the Moon is located within the Mint and Liberty restaurant and creates a Chocolate Stump Cake with bittersweet chocolate frosting and meringue mushrooms, 9-inch double crust fruit pie and bourbon pecan, pumpkin chili and chocolate cream pies. ($42 to $80). Order via melissa@sonomasunflower.com by Dec. 22. Pick up Sunday, Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Monday, Dec. 24 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 19101 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma. Co-owner Melissa Cameron says they will host a bake sale on Dec. 23 for those who didn't get an order in on time or just want to grab something last minute; 10 a.m. until they run out.
Les Pascals in Glen Ellen will take orders for a variety of traditional Bûches de Noel in the authentic French style, packaged in special boxes the owners brought from France during a recent trip.
They'll offer croquembouche, a beautifully decorated pyramid of choux (delicate pastry) filled with pastry cream and dipped in hard caramel sugar; Christmas apple tarts, hand cut and filled in the shape of a Christmas tree; specialty candies from Lyon, ribboned boxes of macarons, and meringue snowmen.
The shop will also have lots of holiday goodies in case you forgot to order.
Order by 6 p.m. Dec. 22 at 934-8378. Closed Wednesdays. New hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen.
Scandia Bakery will have pumpkin, apple, cherry, French apple, and pecan pies ($15.95 to 20.95) in addition to its always great 'snails,' or Danish pastries. Order by Dec. 22 at 938-5820. 500 W. Napa St. near Sonoma Market or scandiabakery.com.
Sweet Pea Bakeshop, Sonoma's brand new bakery that makes fabulous croissants (crispy on the outside, perfect inside), will offer an 8-inch chocolate peppermint cake filled with candy cane infused buttercream to look like a candy cane; chocolate pecan pie – a classic pecan pie filled with dark chocolate chunks and drizzled with chocolate; a tiramisu Bûche de Noel vanilla cake with marsala espresso simple syrup, mascarpone and chocolate ganache filling; and holiday macarons in eggnog, peppermint bark and gingerbread fillings. $25 to $55. Order in person, by phone at 934-8797 or at info@sweetpeanapa.com. Pick up Christmas Eve from 7 a.m. to noon. 720 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
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