Unconventional Chef Reinvents Dessert by Baking a Clear Pumpkin Pie

Everything you think you know about pumpkin pie has changed thanks to chef Simon Davies of Chicago’s Alinea restaurant. He has transformed the classic Thanksgiving dish into something that seems familiar, but is unlike anything we've seen before. It has the same golden crust and dab of whipped topping, with one big difference—the filling is clear. Yes, you can see through the normally-orange puree, from one side of the pie piece to the other.

So, how did Davies’ create this unusual food? It’s thanks to science; he used a rotary evaporator machine that’s popular in molecular gastronomy cooking. The device creates a liquid distillate of a chosen flavor—in this case, pumpkin. It (supposedly) tastes like the real thing, too.

Molecular gastronomy-style dishes—such this pie—are known for exploring and reinterpreting existing foods and recipes in unexpected ways. Davie’s twist on tradition certainly does that; all that’s left to do is grab a fork and take a bite.

Chef Simon Davies of Chicago's Alinea restraunt has created a clear food that you'd never expect.

A post shared by Simon Davies (@simon.a.davies) on

He has taken pumpkin pie—a classic Thanksgiving dessert—and made it see through!

A post shared by Simon Davies (@simon.a.davies) on

Simon Davies: Instagram
h/t: [Mashable, BuzzFeed]

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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