Andy Williams Makes Mom’s Chicken Pot Pie

Branson’s First Annual Great American Pie Show—with guest celebrity judge Al Roker from NBC’s “Today Show” —has a line-up of celebrities including Andy Williams cooking their personal favorite pies on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, at the Branson Convention Center.

On Friday, events at the Great American Pie Show and Marketplace will be hosted by well-known entertainer Barbara Fairchild. The Marketplace will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring more than 50 booths with foods, herbs, kitchen supplies, cabinetry, cookbooks and more plus samples from local wineries.

The bake-off for the 12 semi-finalists begins at 9 a.m. The contestants were chosen from among more than 1,000 applicants by Taste of Home Cooking Schools. They come from 11 states. Jan Louden, of Branson, is among the finalists.

Celebrities Demonstrate

In addition to hundreds of volunteers, Branson’s celebrities stepped forward to make this new festival a favorite, said Ross Summers, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“The entertainers in Branson are part of the community, and they support our causes and festivals, and that’s what makes Branson a unique place,” Summers said. “The entertainers go out of their way to meet the guests, shake hands, sign autographs, and welcome people to town. It’s all part of the Branson experience.”

To start the pie show on Friday:
10 a.m.—The Lennon Sisters will make their Berry Rhubarb Pie.
11 a.m.—The Branson Divas will reveal the ingredients in McFarlain’s Traffic Jam Pie.
Noon—The Comets will whip up a Raspberry Lemon Meringue pie.
1 p.m.—Who knew Roy Rogers Jr. is a fabulous baker. He’ll make Mrs. Roger’s Lemon Meringue Pie.
2 p.m.—The bakers from the Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School will make Pumpkin Strudel.
3 p.m.—And Paul Revere will make his favorite Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

Judging then begins for the 12 semi-finalist by TV meteorologists from NBC affiliates in several area cities including KY-3 in Springfield.

Admission to the Great American Pie Show and Marketplace is $5. Funds will support Ozarks Food Harvest, which supplies many local food pantries.

Get A Taste of Home

Next door in the Branson Convention Center from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday is the Taste of Home Cooking School. Another Taste of Home class will be 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The local hosts for the Cooking Schools are Janet Lennon of The Lennon Sisters and radio and TV personality Janet Ellis.

Taste of Home is the world’s #1 publisher of cooking magazines, cookbooks and hosts 300 cooking shows each year. Taste of Home is sponsoring the cooking show with their national sponsors including French’s Fried Onions, Kraft and Ziploc and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Admission is $15 with tickets available at the door or in advance at the front desk of the Hilton Branson Landing Hotel or at www.ticketmaster.com. That also includes admission to the Great American Pie Show and Marketplace.

The theme of the cooking school is simple recipes for spring events. The chefs will create a variety of recipes from Sesame Ginger Glazed Meatballs to Triple Layer Mud Pie. The audience will receive gift bags stuffed with free goodies and will have a chance to win door prizes autographed by celebrities including Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart, Regis & Kelly, Tyra Banks and Ellen plus the casts of the “The Young and The Restless” and “The Bold and The Beautiful.”

Eat A Piece of Pie

There’s no doubt that all this cooking will make guests hungry. Not to fear. Hilton will be selling a variety of whole pies or pie-by-the-slice. And there will be other snacks including sandwiches and drinks.

On Saturday, doors again open at 8 a.m. with the four finalists competing.
10 a.m.—America’s favorite weatherman, Al Roker, will hold a book signing and question-and-answer session.
1 p.m.—Andy Williams takes the Celebrity Cooking Stage to demonstrate how to make Andy’s Mother’s Chicken Pot Pie.
2 p.m.—The Candy House baker will demonstrate chocolate fondue, ganache and truffles.
3 p.m.—Bill Medley will cook his favorite, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie.
4 p.m.—after all the ovens have cooled down—Roker will announce the grand winner of The Great American Pie Show 2009.

For more information, visit www.greatamericanpieshow.com or www.explorebranson.com or call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 417-334-4084 or 800-214-3661.

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