Hattie and Maren’s review of Hewitt’s festive fall pie party that provided these two girls with a sweet treat.

If you love pies, this article is for you! And, if you are not the biggest pie person, this article is still for you! 

On November 9, 2023, Hewitt Dining Hall hosted a “Pie Party” for Barnumbia community members to have the opportunity to sample a delectable assortment of festive fall pies. Hosted by Liz Chit Sanchez, the Barnard Dining Marketing Manager, the event was definitely a hit. Chit Sanchez described her goal for the Pie Party to be “a way to get a taste of what the Thanksgiving holiday can be like” for community members who have never experienced the holiday before. And, it sure seemed that everyone wanted to get a taste of the pies as Hewitt was packed with avid pie fanatics, all munching on the yummy variety of pies from traditional Thanksgiving pies such as pumpkin to a fun chocolate mousse pie that closely resembled a cup of Swiss Miss! 

We took the liberty of trying each and every pie, because who doesn’t love a good sweet treat? We ranked each pie on a scale of 10 because even if you missed the event, you can use a meal swipe to order an ENTIRE pie (WHOOP WHOOP) to celebrate fall with your nearest and dearest! These orders will be available as soon as next week so that community members can get into the holiday spirit in time for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Pie: 5/10 

Soooo, this was our first pie and though it wasn’t absolutely amazing, we loved the presentation. For Maren, the pie was reminiscent of Thanksgiving and the pies her grandmother would make each year. The texture was smooth, however we found that our samples were a little bit watery overall—this made the pastry less enjoyable than some of the other pies that we tried. However, we loved the yummy warmth that came from the rich aroma of the pumpkin mixed with undertones of vanilla and cinnamon. 

Sweet Potato Pie: 7/10

Neither of us had ever tried sweet potato pie before, but we know now that we will be eating it again. Tasting like a yummy Bath and Body Works fall-themed spray in the best way possible, the pie had a firm and defined crust that gave the overall vibe of sweetness some nice structure. The pie was so sweet and tasted like marshmallows, sort of like the classic sweet potato and marshmallow meal made for Thanksgiving. Highly recommend it whether you are into sweet potatoes or not—Hattie does not like sweet potatoes, but thoroughly enjoyed!

Apple Caramel Pie: 6.5/10

This pie was definitely on theme with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, however, it was not our favorite. With honey undertones that overpowered the apple and caramel aspects, we wished that there was more filling and a little less crust. However, the aftertaste left an aromatic taste in our mouths that was perfect for the beautiful fall day we saw after leaving Hewitt. 

Chocolate Mousse Pie: 9/10 

We absolutely saved the best pie for last because this pie DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Layered with a graham cracker crust and a creamy chocolate mousse filling, this pie was about as good as it gets. We particularly liked the graham cracker base, which differed from the rest of the pies that we tried. It melted in our mouths in the same way a Swiss Miss hot chocolate from childhood does. Even though it was not very on-brand with the fall theme, we highly recommend it!! 

As we wrapped up our tasting session, our stomachs and hearts were full. We scanned the QR code to place our respective pie orders and to share with our friends! Hewitt is such a comfortable and cozy space on campus for so many community members so to be able to enjoy such a comforting dessert was a great way to spend our Thursday lunch. As Chit Sanchez described the event as a place to “create new memories through food,” the Pie Party was a hit in our books! Placing our orders as we speak!

Images via Authors