On This Day in 1962: The Beatles performed for the first time on the BBC in Great Britain. John, Paul, George and Pete Best. He played the drums prior to Ringo.
Bake Some Pies Today
Al Roker Wants to Know: What’s Your Favorite Kind of Pie?
Time to check your recipe file. The deadline to enter your favorite pie recipe in Branson’s Great American Pie Show Contest is March 13. The Pie Show will take place Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, at the Branson Convention Center. To read the rules and sign up, visit www.greatamericanpieshow.com. There is no fee to enter.
Twelve semi-finalists will be selected in four categories: fruit pie, nut pie, refrigerator/freezer pie and pudding/cream/custard pie. On Friday, the semi-finalists will be narrowed to four finalists who will compete on Saturday.
NBC’s “Today Show” Al Roker will be a guest celebrity judge. From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Roker will conduct a book signing and question-and-answer session.
Tickets to the watch the Pie Show and visit the Marketplace with cooking products, food samples, prizes and more are $5. The Great American Pie Show is presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB and the Taste of Home Cooking Schools.
Learn New Recipes
The popular Taste of Home Cooking Schools will take place the same days as the Pie Show from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24, and 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25. On Saturday, doors open at 11 a.m., and the first 100 ticket-holders will be eligible to participate as People’s Choice judges of the Great American Pie Show at 1 p.m. prior to the Cooking School.
Cooking School admission is $15 and includes a gift bag, cookbook and a chance to win fabulous door prizes. It also includes admission to the Great American Pie Show and Marketplace.
To buy tickets for the Taste of Home Cooking Schools, visit www.greatamericanpieshow.com to purchase through Ticketmaster. Tickets also are on sale locally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Branson Convention Center Events Office, 200 Sycamore St., on the second floor near the Skybridge.
Early Easter Bunny
Of course, it wasn’t the REAL Easter Bunny, but a close relative appeared at a recent taping of the Branson Community Connection show on The Vacation Channel. Cory Ross, assistant vice president of Ozark Mountain Bank in Hollister was on the show to talk about the upcoming all-you-can-eat Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. It will be from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Apr. 11 at Appleby’s. The cost is $5 and kids, 4 and under, eat free. For tickets, call Ross at 334-5458.
Hollister Easter Egg Hunt
The free Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. at the Hollister High School Football Field. Funds will go to the Children’s Miracle Network to help area kids.
While Cory was talking about the Easter Egg Hunt, this Easter Bunny’s cousin hopped right into camera range with a big wave for everyone. Rumor has it the bunny was none other than Christy Yarham, assistant branch manager for Metropolitan National Bank in Hollister.
A Gyro and A Beer
That’s just one of the treats Samson Tsahiridis is cooking up at Gyros & More on Missouri 76 across from the entrance to the Tanger Mall. It’s a Greek restaurant. He describes it as a Greek tavern. They serve beer and wine.
The food couldn’t be more authentic with stuffed grape leaves, hummus, tabouli, falafels, the gyro lamb turning on a spit and baklava for dessert. The Big Fat Greek Burger with feta cheese is a favorite, he said. Another favorite is the Greek salad with homemade dressing. It’s the same recipe his dad, Dimitri Tsahiridis, used at Dimitris.
He said a lot of customers are locals who crave Greek food. He’s open daily except Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. He’ll extend the hours for summer. Call 337-5282.