Smack My Momma.

If you've spent much time around Jeanne and I at PJP Buttonwood or if you read this blog on a semi-regular basis, you probably aren't surprised to read that I'm the extrovert of PJP and Jeanne is the introvert.  For the most part, we make a nice balance of each other...I force her to try new things and experience new situations, and she forces to me to reign it in on occasion and focus on priorities. So, in May I had this idea for a pie tasting party.  I really envisioned an atmosphere where guests could try a lot of different pies and have wine and make new pie-loving friends.  When I pitched the idea to Jeanne, she raised an eyebrow at me and said "Do I have to go?"  But if I'm anything, I am exceptionally persuasive when I have something in mind.

So I moved forth and planned the event for a Thursday night, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  $20 a ticket, with a maximum of 30 guests.  Tart sized pie of 15 different flavors.  And then I sold all 30 tickets, putting no thought into logistics because...well, because I've yet to learn the devil is in the details.

Cut to last Thursday at 4 am when I whipped out my iPhone calculator and proceeded to do my first word problem in 25 years:  "If 30 people are coming to eat pie at PJP Buttonwood and we want to offer 15 flavors and everyone is going to eat at least one of each type, how many tarts do Rebecca and Jeanne need to bake?"

450.

450 tarts in one day.

This is where I raised my eyebrow at Jeanne.

But, at our best when completely out of time and out of options, we baked.  We baked tarts and tarts and more tarts.  And we counted and double counted and triple counted.  And then we had wine while we assembled tables for our guests.  And then we rushed home to change and perhaps not look as crazy or tired as we felt.

And guess what?  That party WAS THE MOST FUN, EVER.

We set out all 450 tarts, but we didn't tell any of our excited guests what flavors they would be trying and then we gave them these great little cards that let them make a guess as to each pie flavor and make comments...

After everyone had spent an hour or so eating and drinking and making guesses, we revealed the pie line up.  We gave prizes out to the people who guessed the most pie types correctly...and we actually had two people who guessed 13 out of 15 correctly!

These two people with notable palates won PJP gift certificates for nine inch pies.  Our runner ups were gifted with PJP t-shirts (thanks, Fast Yeti for being, um, fast!) and with gift certificates for baby pies.

And soon, the event was less about pie and more about having fun and making friends.

After everyone packed up the leftover tarts to take home, Jeanne and I spent a few minutes looking through the comment cards that were left behind while we finished our wine.  And when we read this, it made baking 450 tarts in 14 hours completely worth it all...

"Smack my momma, that's good"

Bwhahahahahahahaha.  To whomever wrote that on their card, you will never know the absolute joy and laughter you brought Jeanne and I.  Plus, when we were locking up, Jeanne looked at me and said "Hmmm...I had a lot of fun."  I TOTALLY KNEW SHE WOULD.

Our next event is scheduled for Thursday, July 17th from 6:30 until 8:30.  Only 16 tickets remain, so you are interested, plan to stop by PJP Buttonwood this week or give a call to purchase over the phone.