Coat the pie dish with the bread crumbs. Set aside.
2 tbsp bread crumbs
Pie Filling Layers
Separate the eggs.
7 eggs
Combine the egg whites and the salt. Beat the egg whites and salt until foamy and double in volume.
1/8 tsp sea salt
Add ⅓ cup of sugar - 1 tablespoon at a time - to the egg whites. Beat after each addition until sugar is dissolved. [To test, rub a bit of the mixture between your thumb and index finger. It should feel smooth, not grainy.]
2/3 cup sugar
Continue beating the egg whites until all of the sugar is incorporated and the egg whites are shiny and form stiff peaks.
Prepare The Chocolate Batter
Beat egg yolks in a large bowl until lemon colored.
Gradually beat the remaining ⅓ cup of sugar into the yolks. Add the vanilla. Set aside.
2/3 cup sugar, 1-1/2 tsp vanilla
Melt the chocolate. Combine 7 oz of chocolate with the hot water in a double boiler. Place over simmering water until melted. Whisk rapidly until smooth.
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, 3 tbsp hot water
Add the melted chocolate to the egg yolk mixture. Gradually beat the melted chocolate into the egg yolk mixture.
Add the egg white mixture to the egg yolk mixture. Fold ¼ of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate/yolk mixture. Once this has a uniform color, gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
Bake The First Layer
Pour ½ of the chocolate batter into the prepared pie plate. Spread the top smooth.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Prepare the Chocolate Mouse Layer
While the first layer is baking make the mouse layer.
Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks are formed.
2 cups whipped cream
Gently fold ⅔ cup of the whipped cream into the remaining chocolate mixture/batter.
Cover and refrigerate (until the baked portion has finished baking and cooling).
Cover and refrigerate the remaining ⅓ of the whipped cream.
Assemble The Chocolate Mouse Pie
Cool the baked chocolate layer on a wire rack for 2 hours. [The center will sink to form a shell as it cools.]
When the shell has completely cooled, fill it with the chocolate mouse mixture.
Top the chocolate mouse layer with the remaining whipped cream and shaved chocolate.