Calling professional and amateur bakers of all stripes, with predilections for both sweet and savory fillings! In celebration of National Pie Day, the Aussie transplants at Southeast Portland's Pacific Pie Co. are inviting local pie lovers to showcase their baking skills at their second annual Pie Contest.

Do you have a crowd-pleasing recipe for pecan? Are you an expert at whipping perfect merengue? Is your grandma's apple pie the one apple pie to rule them all? Put your best to the test on Sunday, January 20th at 1520 SE 7th Ave from 1 to 3 pm, when one amateur and one professional baker will be crowned the 2013 PDX Pie Champions. In addition to garnering mega bragging rights, winners will have their pies featured on the restaurant’s menu in February. 

There's no cost to enter, and you can submit as many pies as you like, but you've gotta register in advance by emailing [email protected] no later than 1:00 pm on the day of the bake-off. All entries must be fully baked, ready to eat, and accompanied by a recipe. 

The submissions will be judged by eager fork and knife wielders Kate Withiam (Pacific Pie Co. pastry chef), gossip-about-town Byron Beck, Feast Portland co-founder Mike Thelin, Fifty Licks ice cream owner Chad Draizin, St. Jack pastry chef Alissa Rozos, and 10-year-old Thea Dieter, Pacific Pie Co.’s "#1 customer" and aspiring pastry chef.

 Not a baker? Still love pie? All of the submissions will be available to sample on the day of the contest, and diners will have a chance to cast their vote for the “People’s Choice” award. It's a crust-powered win/win, for sure.