The Piechiatrist is In at Pie Cottage

Known as “The Piechiatrist”, renowned baker Kate McDermott’s Pie Cottage and Holiday Pies are here for day nine of the Advent calendar

Photo of Apple Pie from Kate McDermott’s ®️ Art of the Pie

The first time I made my friend

Kate McDermott

’s recipe for apple pie from her gorgeous book, Art of the Pie, I told anyone who would listen how great it was.

Then, I insisted they look at a photo I took of the bottom crust I’d made — it was like showing off an “A” on my pie report card.

I first posted my pie picture in this newsletter almost three years ago, complete with exuberant caption.

My exuberant pie post about the bottom crust from almost 3 years ago. Photo: Jolene

Kate, who writes the wonderful

Kate McDermott's Newsletter

here on Substack, teaches classes from her home in Washington State, her residence charmingly named “Pie Cottage” — and she also offers online workshops.

Inside Pie Cottage. Photo: Kate McDermott

Kate’s had a fascinating life and career — before her baking days she was a professional accompanist playing piano and harpsichord, and a music coach. She wrote her first cookbook Art of the Pie (2016) when she was 63, followed by Home Cooking with Kate McDermott (2018) and Pie Camp (2020).

My pal

Maddie Burton

has been to Pie Cottage and taken class with Kate. I asked Maddie recently what her favorite pie was and without hesitation she said: “All of them.” Read Maddie’s latest post at

On The Cusp

a terrific and inspiring (and delicious) piece on diving into something new and her passion for baking.

A post from Kate on all things pie

This is a piece Kate posted ahead of Thanksgiving and it is an absolutely amazing resource for the holidays and anytime you want to bake a pie.

I’ve always loved Kate’s philosophy on baking — and life.

“Keep everything chilled, especially yourself.”

Thank you, Kate! 🥧

# 277: The ABC's of Pie for TDay

Day Nine of “The Little Town” Advent Calendar

See you tomorrow! 🥧

Jolene