Slow Food Miami, a volunteer organization supporting local farmers and sustainable methods, is excited to host their annual Thighs & Pies Pie Contest next Saturday, September 10 to kickoff its 2011-2012 event season. Sponsored by Whole Foods Market-Coral Gables, guests are invited to enjoy a picnic, a celebrity-judged pie contest and live music in the name of the environment.

The fun begins at noon at The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove. The contest will feature 30 pies that must be made with a main ingredient native to Florida. Judges include Lee Brian Schrager (founder of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, Hedy Goldsmith (executive pastry chef of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink restaurants) and Ariana Kumpis (president of Les Dames D’Escoffier Miami).

For the picnic, Sustain restaurant will serve their famed fried chicken (from Tanglewood Farms) and Whole Foods will provide side dishes and other desserts. Live music will entertain from 12-3 pm. Pie contest winners will be announced at 1 pm, and the champions will be awarded special prizes donated by Whole Foods Market-Coral Gables and Breville Appliances.

The event closes with a pie sale benefitting the Slow Food Miami Edible School Garden Program.

Celebrate your community’s local farmers and food makers at this fun, family-friendly event. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children ages 5-15; children 5 and under get in free.  To buy tickets or to enter the competition (hurry, the deadline is September 1), visit www.slowfoodmiami.com/thighsandpies.htm.

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