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The Pie King
Michael Hinkle, Oklahoma’s one and only
Pie King, goes on the most important event ever to be rolled out in the history of pie.

On October 8, 2011, Edmond resident Michael Hinkle 'The Pie King', and his partner-in-pie, Robby Joe of northeast Oklahoma, met at the East Side Café, 720 E. Center Street in Pryor, Oklahoma, where, joined by a caravan of pie-faithful followers, they launched the final leg of a quest that began October 29, 1972.

On that fateful day, Hink and Robby Joe, two bone-tired bartenders, plopped into a booth at the Billie Lee Pie Café on NW 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. Instead of serving them each a slice of pie as ordered, the waitress placed a whole peach pie before Hink and a whole lemon meringue pie before Robby Joe. (Talk about sensory overload.) That unassuming waitress was none other than Nadine, the long forgotten, eternally youthful muse of serious pie makers.

No one will ever know why Nadine selected Hink and Robby Joe to go forth in search of “pie enlightenment.” But for almost four decades now, Hink, officially dubbed the Pie King, and Robby Joe have journeyed tirelessly through every state in America (except Alaska), tasting and seeking answers to those questions asked of bakers who faithfully uphold the true disciplines of homemade pie creations.

Lo and behold, this past June, the Pie King and Robby Joe received another visitation from Nadine, this time at a café in the Arizona Sonoran desert, where the ephemeral muse revealed that the end of the quest is at hand. The time has arrived to identify the best pie in America, the pie of all pies, the pie that leads to truth, benevolence, happiness and blissed-out taste buds.

Click Here to Listen

Big Blend Radio Interview

Michael Hinkle
talks about
his quest for
the best Pie!

“On October 29, 2012,” the muse proclaimed with raised fork, “the world will not end as many suppose. On that day, the Pie King and his followers will partake of the Pie of Enlightenment and instill peace in all those who believe in the salvation of pie.” She instructed the Pie King and his cohort to return to Oklahoma and “prepare yourselves to venture a final time across the highways of America and apply the lessons you have learned these past 39 years.”

For the balance of 2011, 'The Pie Mobile' is venturing on to pie destinations in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico, Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York and sundry other states where the cranberries harvest is in full swing.

The quest will continue into 2012 with pie tastings in Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and the Midwest. On October 29, 2012, after a full forty years, the Pie King will declare the winner of the Golden Wedge. Life through pie will never taste so good. Long live pie! Long live the Pie King!

Learn more at www.ThePieKing.com  

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