Crust & Culture

Every culture has a version of the hand pie.

The empanada. The meat pie. The samosa. The patty. The xian bing. The turnover. Wherever people have gathered, they have wrapped something delicious in dough and shared it with the people around them.

Crust & Culture is a celebration of that universal language — a hand pie social in the heart of Charlotte where neighborhoods, cultures, and cuisines come together over the world's most beloved handheld food.

Bring yours. Find your roots. Grab a seat at the table.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A curated lineup of Community Crust Partners — local vendors and home bakers representing cultures from around the world — will be serving savory and sweet hand pies for tasting. 

This is a neighborhood gathering, not a food festival — it's designed for conversation, connection, and the kind of afternoon that turns strangers into neighbors.

This is a rain-or-shine event. Dress for the weather and bring a blanket if you'd like to settle into the lawn.

YOUR TICKET OPTIONS

🎟 Community Table Contribution — $10 Reserve your seat at the table. Your contribution helps cover event costs and keeps Gathering Table CLT events free and open to the community long-term. Tasting from all Community Crust Partner tables is included with your ticket.

🥧 Bring a Pie, Skip the Fee — Free Bring a handmade or purchased handheld pie (enough to serve 10 people) and your ticket fee is fully waived. See the Pie Contributor guidelines below for everything you need to know.

🥧 PIE CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES Everything you need to know if you're bringing a pie

Bringing a pie is the heartbeat of this event. Every culture has one, and showing up with yours is the most meaningful way to participate.

What qualifies: Your pie should be a handheld pie, turnover, or pastry that can be eaten without utensils — think empanadas, hand pies, meat pies, samosas, patties, pâtés, pierogi, pasties, börek, or any cultural equivalent. Both savory and sweet pies are welcome. Homemade or purchased — both count.

How much to bring: Please bring enough to serve approximately 10 people — typically 10–12 individual pieces. Your pie will be placed on a shared Community Table alongside contributions from other guests.

How to register as a Pie Contributor: Select the "Bring a Pie, Skip the Fee" ticket option and complete the Pie Contributor form. You'll be asked to share: the name of your pie, its cultural origin, whether it contains common allergens (gluten, dairy, nuts, meat), and whether it is vegetarian or vegan. This helps us label everything accurately for guests.

Day-of instructions: Arrive between 11:00–11:20 AM (before general doors open at 11:30) so our team can receive your contribution, place it on the Community Table, and create a label card for your pie. Please bring your pie in a covered container. If your pie is best served warm, bring it in an insulated carrier — we do not have warming equipment on-site.

Your story is part of the experience: When you check in, we'll ask if you'd like to share a sentence or two about your pie — its name, where it comes from, and what it means to you. These stories will be shared at the table and on our social media throughout the event. It's entirely optional, but it's the part people remember most.

ABOUT THE GATHERING TABLE CLT

Gathering Table CLT is a new seasonal food series in Charlotte — bringing the community together around the world's cuisines, one event at a time. Every season, a new dish. Every dish, a new story. Crust & Culture is our first event. Follow us on Instagram @gatheringtableclt for future dates.

Questions? Accessibility needs? Reach out to us at [email protected]. We want everyone to have a seat at this table.

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Host or Publisher Manna House