Who’s judging your pie at Good Food’s 2018 Pie Contest?

Each year, the Good Food Pie Contest packs UCLA’s campus with hopeful bakers and hungry patrons for a full day of pie-themed partying. This year’s event will feature a marketplace of locally made goods, a variety of food vendors, and lots of activities for families attending the day’s festivities! Now, we are pleased to add some notable food world personalities into the mix for this year’s judging panel!

When selecting judges for the contest, it’s always important to strike a balance. The contest requires hungry judges who genuinely love the art of baking but also a thoughtful group to think critically about what makes a first-place pie.

Some of this year’s judges are bakers themselves, raising the stakes for applicants. Brianna Abrams from Winston Pies, Zoe Nathan from Huckleberry and Cleménce Gossett from The Gourmandise School of Sweets & Savories will be looking for a perfectly flaky crust, paired with creative fillings.

Chefs of some of Southern California’s most Instagrammable dining spots will also be taking a look at the more than 400 submitted pies. The likes of Meadow Ramsey from Kismet, Sang Yoon of Lukshon and David LeFevre of Manhattan Beach Post will likely understand the value of a visually appealing masterpiece.

But then, some of this year’s judges are fabulous eaters! Happy, hungry personalities like Phil Rosenthal, creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and star of “Somebody Feed Phil” will be noshing on contestant’s submissions.

Vegan bakers will also have specialty judges that are well-versed in meat and dairy-free eats! Clara Polito from Clara Cakes and artist and foodie Stacy Michelson will also be dipping their forks into some of the vegan entries.

This year’s judges

Amy Rowat — UCLA

Ann Kirk — Little Dom’s

Annie Miler — Clementine

Brianna Abrams — Winston Pies

Candace Nelson — Sprinkles

Carolina Miranda — LA Times

Christine Moore — Little Flower & Lincoln

Clara Polito — Clara Cakes

Cleménce Gosset — Gourmandise

Dahlia Narvaez — Mozza

David LeFevre — MB Post, Fishing with Dynamite and The Arthur J

Duff Goldman — Cakemix

Gustavo Arellano — KCRW

Isa Fabro — IsaMADE

Jonathan Gold — LA Times

Jonathan Graham — Compartes Chocolatier Gourmet Chocolate

Meadow Ramsey — Kismet

Na-Young Ma — Proof Bakery

Noelle Carter — LA Times

Phil Rosenthal — Somebody Feed Phil

Robert Wemischner — Pastry Instructor LA Trade Tech College

Rose Lawrence — Rustic Canyon

Sang Yoon — Lukshon and Father’s Office

Sarah Lange — Bearclaw Kitchen

Shannon Swindle — Craft

Sherry Yard — iPic

Stacy Michelson — Artist

Zoe Nathan — Huckleberry