Join the upper crust

Serve yourself up a slice of fun at Pie Day in Nehalem

By Chelsea Yarnell

For the TODAY 

Photos by Broken Banjo Photography

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie — or fruit and custard if you prefer.

At White Clover Grange Pie Day in Nehalem, just about anything goes as far as pie is concerned: sweet pies, savory pies, vegan pies, gluten-free pies and various pies-but-not-pies will all be up for auction.

The 15th annual event, taking place this Saturday, Feb. 8, is a nod to National Pie Day on January 23.

Admission includes a paddle for bidding, and a pie and ice cream feast.

“You’ll come in and see what pies are going to be auctioned and read the program about the pies,” said organizer Vivi Tallman. “Then you pick up your paddles and you’re ready to go.”

Along with 20 talented home bakers, eating establishments contributing their signature pies to this year’s auction include: Brittany Bakes, Buttercup, the Bunkhouse, Big Wave, Downies Cafe, the Roost, Wanda’s Cafe, Offshore Grill, Manzanita Grocery and Deli, Neahkahnie Smokehouse and the Salmonberry.

This year’s auctioneer, local publisher and pie-lover Chip MacGregor, will facilitate the bidding. And the pies can bring in some serious dough. Like the marionberry cheesecake that was auctioned off for $300 last year. Or the salmon quiche pie baked by the Neahkahnie Smokehouse that brought in more than $200.

“What makes the quiche so wonderful is the Coho salmon (that’s smoked here at the Neahkahnie Smokehouse), the chives, the dill and the local organic goat cheese,” said Neahkahnie Smokehouse quiche baker Lori Mersereau. “Everything is homemade. There’s so much love put into this quiche. We always want to be a part of our community and contribute any time we can.”

Mini quiches are a regular staple at the Neahkahnie Smokehouse shop, but customers can also special order the coveted salmon quiche if they’re not the winning bidder at Pie Day.

Pie Day is expected to fill the White Clover Grange hall, with past years’ crowds exceeding 100 people. Even if guests don’t win a pie, no need to be humble, dig into the 35 additional pies that will be brought out to feast upon at the conclusion of the auction. Scoops of ice cream complete the treat. 

“Everybody can fill up their plates with pie,” Tallman said.

While the bounty of pies draws people to the event, it’s also a reminder to keep the craft of baking and pie-making alive. 

“It’s an opportunity to highlight, honor and encourage a traditional art that we want to keep going,” Tallman said. “We have a lot of fun while we’re doing it.”

Last year’s event brought in $11,000. All the funds raised from Pie Day are dedicated to the White Clover Grange’s building fund. The building was built in 1921 as the Mohler School. After the school combined with the Nehalem School District in 1929, the building was left empty and became the home of the White Clover Grange.

“Our building is 104 years old and always needs attention,” Tallman said. “Recently, we finished preparing and painting the outside, and we have new electricity to the stage. The beautiful windows upstairs from the 1920s need to be reglazed.”

The Grange, whose official name is “The Patrons of Husbandry,” is a nonprofit fraternal organization with roots in agriculture. The White Clover Grange, specifically, has been a place for community gathering in Nehalem for decades.

“It’s a community asset, a place for local people,” Tallman said. “People have their weddings, memorials and baby showers here.”

On Saturday, doors to the White Clover Grange will open at 2:30 pm for a sneak peek at the two dozen pies that will be auctioned off beginning at 3 pm. Tickets, available by purchase at the door, are $15 for adults and $5 for kids younger than age 10. The White Clover Grange is located at 36585 Hwy. 53 in Nehalem. For more information, go to whiteclovergrange.org.