An Apple (Pie) A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

There’s something about pie that brings me joy. Maybe it’s the way it looks—whether it’s a beautifully patterned lattice top or a rustic chicken pot pie that evokes memories of cozy winter days. Or perhaps it’s the nostalgia it carries, like the taste of strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla ice cream on a warm spring afternoon.

For our March Vancouver Cookbook Club, we hosted a special pie edition where everyone brought a homemade pie dish from their favourite cookbook. From Penny’s savoury Butternut Squash Galette to Aislinn’s stunning Key Lime Pie, the spread was incredible. Why pies, you ask? It’s simple—March 14 (3.14) is National Pi Day, so we decided to celebrate with a pie-filled gathering the following day. It was an evening packed with carbs, but with warm company and great coffee from Dalina, no one minded indulging just a little too much.

Pie-Breaker Activity

At most events Cynthia and I host, especially when many guests don’t know each other, we incorporate icebreaker activities. I usually dream up the big-picture ideas, and Cynthia brings them to life—our teamwork just clicks!

For our pie club event, I envisioned an interactive activity where everyone would have their own ‘pie’ with eight slices, each labelled with their name. As they met new people, they would exchange slices, collecting a pie filled with names of those they connected with. Cynthia loved the concept and worked her design crafts!

Using leftover flat wooden Christmas ornaments as a base, she cut hundreds of tiny paper pie slices with her Cricut machine—296 in total! We folded them all by hand (a true labour of love), then used Velcro to attach the slices to the base. The final result was a crafty and colourful collection of pies. Icebreaker questions were scattered throughout the venue to encourage conversation, and soon, the room was laminated with memories upon memories of laughter and good food.

Keep Your Eyes on the Pies

Our March Vancouver Cookbook Club took place at Dalina, kicking off at 5:00 PM—right around dinnertime. I prayed a few attendees would bring savoury pies to balance out the sweet ones, and my prayers were answered! Out of the 37 pies that arrived, 14 were savoury!

The variety and creativity were impressive. Shelley’s Curry Chicken Hand Pies tasted like the perfect fusion of comforting curry and flaky pastry, while Jackson’s Spanakopita Pie was a golden, buttery dream. The effort everyone put into their pies was evident, from crafting homemade crusts to decorating tarts with artistic precision. Special shoutout to Bee, who tested a small batch of her Mango Pineapple Pie with her coworkers before making a full version for the event!

I’ll admit, I was a little worried that some might be intimidated by making pies—I’ve had my fair share of pie crust disasters, from dough breaking mid-rollout to crusts mysteriously shrinking in the oven. Seeing the love and dedication everyone laminated into each creation warmed our hearts.

Slice of Community

One of the main reasons Cynthia and I started Vancouver Cookbook Club was to build a sense of community, especially in a city where loneliness is evident. Through this pie event, we saw people of all backgrounds—different ages, careers, and levels of cooking experience—come together over a shared love of food. It was heartwarming to know that some attendees pushed themselves outside their comfort zones, not only in making a pie but also in showing up to an event where they might not have known anyone.

People in Vancouver are hungry for connection, and we’re grateful to share a slice of community in creating a space where friendships (and delicious memories) are made. If we brightened even one person’s day—one pie at a time—then it was all worth it.