SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Prodisee Pantry is $3,500 closer to their proposed new facility, and progress never tasted so sweet.

"I think this is definitely going to become our signature event," said Deann Servos, director of the Spanish Fort-based emergency food and disaster relief agency serving all of Baldwin County.

Only about 35 of the roughly 100 pies displayed during the May 1 fundraiser at Daphne United Methodist Church’s Community Life Center, but Servos said the panel of celebrity judges still had a difficult time selecting winners in each of the four categories.

Brenda Brockman’s peanut butter pie took top honors in the cream/custard category and was also named the inaugural competition’s grand prize winner, entitling her to a cooking course for two at the Wind Creek Casino.

Meanwhile, Mary Lou McNair’s date-sesame pie placed first in the chiffon/mousse category; Elizabeth Hooten took first place in the fruit and nut category with her pecan alligator pie; and Kate Settles emerged victorious in the savory category with her southwest pie that boasted Italian sausage, enchilada sauce, tortillas and pepper-jack cheese.

The cook-off is the pantry’s most recent effort to raise funds to meet increasing demand for services and construct a new 11,000-square-foot facility along U.S. Highway 31 between Alabama Highways 181 and 59. The envisioned facility would include a 5,000-square-foot warehouse housing a receiving/storage/repackaging area for dry/frozen/cooled foods and disaster relief supplies with the necessary loading docks. The remaining 6,000 square feet will consist of a large multi-purpose public room for client interviews, an emergency kitchen, restrooms and several offices.

"I encourage all amateur cooks to go ahead and start looking for that perfect pie recipe because after the talent we saw in this first run, creativity is really going to count next year," Servos said.