August 16, 2006

Local ingredients combine for prize-winning pie: WHAT'S COOKING

By Stefanie Ellis
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH

Name: Karen Klaus

Home: Central West End

Occupation: Development director, Arts and Education Council

Family: Daughter, Devon

Building relationships: "Build St. Louis was sponsoring a locally
grown pie contest, and I really took it to heart. The organization is all about
supporting independent businesses, and I always try to support them. My father
owned his own pharmacy, so I know how important it is. There's something
special about the relationships you build. When you go into restaurants and
bookstores and people know you by name, it feels more personal. You really get
to know your neighbors by patronizing the local places."

Summer Saturdays: "Shopping local farmers markets is another way I
support my community. Each market has different vendors and different things
that make it special. It's fun to jump around and see what they have."

Gathering the goods: "For my pie, I wanted to do something really
St. Louis, so I put a big pastry fleur-de-lis on top and called it 'St. Louis
Indy 500 Pieces of Pecan Pie with Dark Chocolate and Fleur-de-Lis.'

"It was fun gathering ingredients for my pie - almost like going on a scavenger
hunt. I made it while sipping a cup of Kaldi's coffee and listening to a CD by
the St. Louis group the LP Outsiders, which I purchased at Vintage
Vinyl. The pie was taken out of the oven with potholders made by local textile
artist Allison Rabbit, and I purchased a groovy vintage apron from a local
estate sale.

"I got my pie crust from La Dolce Via, my pecans from Schroeder Farms, eggs
from Rafter D Ranch, chocolate from Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, vanilla
and salt from the Soulard Spice Shop and everything else from Shapiro's Market.

"I really made a big effort to get everything local. It paid off because I won
in the best local ingredient category."

©2006 St. Louis Post-Dispatch

 

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