Square Pies & Salmon Farms

Math can explain why square pies taste better than round pies and environmentalism can explain why land-based salmon farms are more sustainable. Continue reading →

Pie Science & Chocolate Genetics

Our very own Amy Rowat explains how to use science to bake a better pie, and geneticists look at the DNA of cacao beans to breed better chocolate beans. Continue reading →

Beer Crust Apple Pie

The Science of Pie – June 1, 2014 Best Scientific Pie Christina Cheung, Tori Schmitt, and Elliot Cheung (Team Pretty Intense Pie Enthusiasts) Adding alcohol to a pie crust is a fairly mainstream way of obtaining a nice flaky shelter for a delicious filling within. Vodka is the go-to spirit for crusts, but other beverages … Continue reading →

Crumbalicious Apple Pie

The Science of Pie – June 1, 2014 Best Overall Pie & People’s Choice Pie Alina Naqvi & Ashley Lipkins-Scott (Team Apple Queens) This duo of student scientists aimed to create a pie with the crunchiest apple filling by experimenting with four different types of apples: Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Pink Lady, and Fuji. To … Continue reading →

Perfectly Unsoggy Apple Pie

The Science of Pie – June 1, 2014 Honorable Mention Pie Alexis Cary & Matthew Copperman (Team On the Road) If you’ve baked an apple pie, you have probably encountered the dreaded problem of a soggy pie crust. The student scientists of Team On the Road sought to solve this pie-baking mishap by determining the … Continue reading →

Nicole Rucker

Nicole Rucker is a pastry chef for the Gjelina group, more specifically, Gjelina Take Away in Venice. At the beginning of her culinary career, Rucker worked in various bakeries and cafes across California, from San Francisco to San Diego. In the quest to create the perfect pie crust, Rucker came up with a recipe that helped her win … Continue reading →

Harnessing Creativity & The Science of Pie (Event Recap)

On your mark… Get set… GO! As the doors swung open, guests eagerly awaiting the final Science & Food lecture series were transported to a place nothing short of a Pie-Palooza. Twenty student teams stood confidently next to their baked confection and explained to the judges how they employed the scientific method to creatively reimagine … Continue reading →

Lena Kwak

A graduate of Rhode Island’s Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute, Cup4Cup President and Co-Founder Lena Kwak began her culinary career as a private chef and caterer. While serving as Research & Development Chef for The French Laundry, Kwak was tasked with testing edible innovations. She excelled quickly and was assigned to devise a gluten-free version … Continue reading →

5 Things About Apples

Our third and final lecture, Harnessing Creativity (and the Science of Pie), is coming up fast! At the event, students from the Science & Food undergraduate course will be serving up science and apple pies. To get ready, here are 5 fun facts related to apples: About the author: Liz Roth-Johnson is a Ph.D. candidate … Continue reading →

Pi & Pies

Tomorrow is Pi Day, so here are a few fun videos to help you celebrate the most mathematically mouthwatering day of the year. Happy Pi(e) Day! Continue reading →