Whoopie Pie Eating Contest

Whoopie Pies Rule in Bath

( from The Times Record July 3, 2009 by Jack Dodson)

Maine’s Favorite Treat replaces blueberry pies in the

Bath Heritage Days’ pie-eating contest

The Maine that’s celebrated during Bath Heritage Days is known for a lot of things that, for the most part, you can’t get anywhere else.

There’s the fresh lobster that brings in loads of tourists every year.  The pine forests that descend to rocky cliffs overlooking deep blue ocean swells. And beautiful harbor views from the island vistas that dot the coast.   And Moxie.

Then, of course, there’s the Maine dessert that stocks the shelves of virtually every real Maine bakery north of Kittery: the cream-filled, cake-like sweet that offers may combinations of  flavors and coloring.  Whoopie pies.

For the uninitiated, “A Whoopie pie is like a sandwich, but made with two soft cookies with a fluffy white filling,” according to the web site whatscookingamerica.net.  “Traditional Whoopie pies are made with vegetable shortening, not butter.  The original and most commonly made Whoopie pie is chocolate, but cooks like to experiment, and today pumpkin Whoopie pies are a favorite seasonal variation.”

The web site credits the Amish of Pennsylvania for concocting the recipe for Whoopie pies, but notes that they’re “one of Maine’s best known and most loved comfort foods.  Mainers will even claim they were weaned on Whoopie pies.”

To honor the Whoopie Pie’s pplace as a culinary icon of Maine, Mae’s Cafe in Bath will sponsor a Heritage Days contast to see who can devour a whole Whoopie pie in the least amount of time.

This year, Whoopie pies will relace blueberry pies – another high-ranking member in the pantheon of Maine desserts that for three years topped the table for Mae’s Cafe’s annual Heritage Days eating challenge – as the comestible of choice for sweet-toothed contestants hoping to gorge their way to victory.

Mae’s Cafe keeps its Whoopie pies simple, according to Katie Winglass, who owns the restaurant and bakery with her husband, Andy.  They tried a red, white and blue-thememed Whoopie pie one year, but it didn’t sell as well as the basic black and white.

Their pies are known for being big, too.  “Basically a day does not go by when someone doesn’t walk by and say, ‘Oh my God, that’s the biggest Whoopie pie I’ve ever seen,” Winglass said.

Size matters, apparently, when it comes to marketing Whoopie pies.

“We can’t keep them in the house,” she said, talking about how the family-run operation ships its version of the Maine dessert classic all over the country and how quickly they depart the shelves at the Centre Street shop.

Rules for the blueberry pie-eating contest stipulated that contestants had to keep their hands tied behind their backs and sit on their knees while eating.  This year, the rules have to be different, Winglass said, because the Whoopie pie wouldn’t sit still well enough.

Mae’s Cafe staff will whip up approximately 250 Whoopie pies for Saturday’s eating competition, which starts at 1pm in City Park.  Although the challenge is open to all ages, there will be a separate event for kids, said Winglass, pointing out that it just wouldn’t be fair to ask a child to eat such a huge dessert against an adult.  A second Whoopie pie eating test is scheduled for 7pm Saturday at CIty Park.

The cafe’s homage to Whoopie pies will extend beyond the kitchen and eating contest tables.   Me’s Cafe’s float in Saturday’s Fourth of July Parade will sport banners highlighting the traditional Maine treat.

“We’re serious about this!”  Winglass said.

This year the Whoopie Pie Eating Contest will be Saturday July 3, 12 – 4pm in Library Park.

2nd Annual Mae’s Blueberry Pie Eating Contest

Contest winners (2006)

After the popularity of last year’s pie eating contest, Mae’s Café owners Andy and Katie Winglass knew they needed to expand from a one to four day event for Bath’s Heritage Days.

Over 50 contestants from Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont attempted to be the first eat their way to the bottom of a 6” blueberry pie, with hands behind their backs.  The motivation?  A full sized 9” Mae’s Café pie of their choice.

Most participants entered of their own free will, however, a few found themselves unknowingly signed up by friends.

Hughie Solari of Boston was using the restroom after eating lunch when pal Mike Sullivan, Boston signed him up.  Little did Mike know that Hughie would end up taking the contest hands down.  Sullivan’s response?  “I’m berry disappointed.”

Officer Phil Jensen was signed up by fellow Bath PD officer MikeLathrop, who ended up entering the contest himself.  It was a close race until Lathrop received word via radio that he needed to leave, only to find out seconds later it was a false alarm!  He dove back in valiantly and nearly won, but Jensen prevailed.

Others winners include Will Duggan, MA; Al Heath, Arrowsic;  Lincoln Weiss, Bath; Seth Benshoff, PA; Harry Bouchard, Bath.

Officer Mike Lathrop and Officer Phil Jensen “wearing the blue”