Make Me Some Pie: A pie blog in Portland, Oregon.

Salt & Straw’s New Scoop Shop and Bakery on NW 23rd

Joel — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:33:01 +0000

Salt & Straw has opened its second location at 838 NW 23rd Ave. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they also have their own in-house bakery there, and they are serving up some very tasty hand pies!

I had a taste of the apple hand pie, and unlike many other bakeries in town, these pies have normal pie crust versus puff pastry. They also had a nice frosting on top to add to the deliciousness.

Next time you stop for ice cream, save room for pie!

The World Needs More Pie’s Beth Howard in Portland to Promote New Book

Joel — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:54:38 +0000

Former Portlander Beth Howard is returning to promote her new book Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie April 7-9. She is traveling cross-country in her RV in her Pie Across the Nation tour.

Beth’s journey is probably the most fascinating out there in the world of pie. She has used pie and sharing it with others, as a way of coping with the unexpected death of her husband, which serves as the basis for her book. Portland serves as the backdrop for much of the book, as she was living here at the time.

Her pie story started in Malibu, California when she quit a lucrative job to bake pies at a gourmet deli, which was frequented by a number of celebrities.

To add to the intrigue, she now lives in Eldon, Iowa, in the American Gothic House, where she runs “Pitchfork Pie Stand” for part of the year. She also continues to teach pie making classes, write on her blog, The World Needs More Pie, and is pursuing a reality TV series.

Making Piece is getting great reviews and I wish Beth success. I’ve been following her story since I started Make Me Some Pie, as I was surprised to find I wasn’t the only pie-centric blogger in Portland. Her story truly illustrates the healing power of pie. You can read more about her story in this excellent piece by Jennifer Anderson in the Portland Tribune.

Making Piece is available in stores and online now.

Howard will be making three appearances in Portland, here are the details:

April 7, 12-2 p.m. at Pacific Pie Co. – book reading and pie making demonstration
April 7, 8-10 p.m. at BiPartisan Cafe – book reading, pie and music from Portland’s pie-band, Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie
April 9, 7 p.m. at Broadway Books – author Q & A and pie

SXSW: An Outsider’s Guide to Finding Pie in Austin, Texas

Joel — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:31:59 +0000

Pecan Pie @ The Salt Lick

Let me preface this by saying, I don’t really have a right to be recommending pie in Austin. I’ve only been there a couple of times, and only have had a small sampling of what Austin has to offer.

But, I have a certain affection for Austin. It’s like Portland’s sister-city (or in my case, it’s my brother-in-law’s city).

So, if you’re in Austin for SXSW and need some pie, I’m going to try to help you. But, just note that this is based on only a little experience on my part, and mostly on web research.

Cutie Pies: I haven’t been to Cutie Pies (I tried… next time), but having talked to some people from Austin and people that have visited Austin, “The Pie Queen” of Austin is one of the best-known pie-centric options in town.

In fact, LeAnn from the Portland Pie-Commission visited with owner Jaynie Buckingham a few years ago.

Cutie Pies used to be located in a food-cart lot on South Congress, but have since opened a storefront at 7329 Burnet Road

- The Pie Society: I haven’t had it, and they are only a catering company, but I recently started following them on Twitter and it looks they are participating in some SXSW events – check it out. Or you could have a pie delivered while you’re there, for Pi Day, perhaps? Even better – like their Facebook page for a special SXSW discount!

- Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop: I don’t know much about them, but they have excellent reviews on Yelp, and have plenty of pie options.

- Boomerang’s: If you’re looking for Aussie-style meat pies, Austin’s got it at Boomerang’s. They’re located near the University of Texas campus. Another place I haven’t been, but the reviews are decent, and it looks pretty tasty.

- Lucy’s Fried Chicken: You can’t have fried chicken without pie. I’m kind of a fried chicken-fiend, and this place is on my list for the next time I visit. I’m particularly intrigued by Sweet Tea Pie and S’mores Pie.

OK, let’s move on to a few places I actually visited and if I would recommend them.

Pecan Pie - Old Pecan Street Cafe

- Old Pecan Street Cafe: Pictured above is the pecan pie from the Old Pecan Street Cafe. To tell the truth, my memory is a little fuzzy about all the details of the pies I tried (it was over a year ago). But, I don’t recall anything bad about this pie, it was a decent pecan pie, a good “nuts to goo” ratio. Old Pecan Street Cafe is right off 6th Street too, so the location may be convenient.

- Chez Zee: I thought the dinner here was decent, but I wasn’t super-impressed with the pies we ordered, plus, as I recall, they were on the pricey side. None of them seemed very fresh and it didn’t have that “homemade” feel that I prefer. I’d say skip it, unless you are staying nearby and need a break from the crowds. I read that they claim to have the best dessert in Austin, and I would definitely have to disagree with that.

- Kerbey Lane Cafe: Kerbey Lane is an Austin staple and has a few locations. They’re known for their pancakes and have some good tex-mex options, too. We were in search of pie, so we grabbed an apple-cranberry slice. They didn’t have a lot of pie options, so I wouldn’t recommend going here if you’re in search of a great pie-joint, but if you’re desperate for pie, I thought it was pretty decent. The crust was really thick, but that doesn’t bother me so much.

- The Salt Lick: OK, I admit it, I fell for this sort of tourist-trap-y restaurant. I saw it on the Travel channel or whatever and was dead-set on going for the mouthwatering BBQ. I’m not saying it’s not good, because it is good. The BBQ was really good – but it wasn’t a life-changing experience like I was hoping for. The problem is, it’s a super-long wait and it’s a pretty long drive out to hill country. We had fun and the food was good, but it is a real time-commitment. The pecan pie, though… I actually thought the pecan pie was pretty exceptional. So, if you are willing to make the journey, don’t skip out on dessert. Or, you might check their Airport location, I’m not sure if they have pecan pie there, though.

OK, now, like I said, I admit that I don’t necessarily know what I’m talking about, so if you are privy to pie in Austin, please let us know where you recommend getting a slice – leave a comment below.

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Portland Pi Day Happenings 2012

Joel — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:15:55 +0000

This is the dude (Larry Shaw) we have to thank for Pi Day. As you can clearly see, he is awesome, and I'm surprised he doesn't live in Portland.

When you think about it, it’s hard to imagine what pie (in the biblical sense) would be if not for Pi (π).

“The circumference of a circle is slightly more than three times as long as its diameter. The exact ratio is called π”

Would pies be square? Oval? Triangles? Octagons? Hmm, actually, an octagonal pie would be kind of cool. But I digress…

March 14 is Pi Day, as deemed by Larry Shaw in 1988, and henceforth embraced by nerds worldwide, and pie (no, not you pizza) is the official food of Pi Day.

Here is the Pi Day rundown for Portland this year (watch for updates as the day draws closer):

Sara Suffriti at Pieku Pie is hosting a Pi Day Pie Class. Cost is $75 and you get to take the pie home that you make. Details here.
Baker & Spice says they don’t have any special plans, but you can still pre-order a tasty pie to celebrate.
Pacific Pie Co. will have slices of sweet pie for $3.14 and their tasty sausage rolls will also be $3.14. Check out their Pi Day menu here.
Random Order is offering $4 slices of sweet pie and $6 for their signature Irish Coffees.
Also, Random Order-related, The Hollywood Theater’s screening of classic pie TV show, Twin Peaks, continues on Pi Day. I believe the screenings have Random Order pie and coffee available. Buy tickets.
White Rabbit Bakery in Aurora (just south of Wilsonville), says they will have nothin’ but pie in their dessert cases today! Way to go all out! They always have gluten free options, too.
Whiffies will once again be offering 10 cents off for each numeral of Pi that you can recite – so start memorizing!
Woah! Just found out, The Honey Pot will be opening at 43rd and SE Belmont TODAY! The Honey Pot was previously based in Bend. I’ve had their sausage rolls and they were pretty solid – check them out! Read more about them at Eat It Up PDX.
Shari’s is offering a free slice with purchase of an entree from 4 to 10 pm today… they do this every Wednesday, though.
If you’re looking for a place to pick up a pie, check out MakeMeSomePie.com’s Ultimate Portland Pie Guide.

If you want to have some Pi/Pie fun at home, Serious Eats hosts a fun Pi Day Baking Contest each year.

Or, you can always just make some pie for your own enjoyment!

“The Help”-Themed Chocolate Pie Recipe

Joel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:13:25 +0000

I know you are all very busy planning your Oscar parties this year. If you are pulling for “The Help” to win, you’ve got to celebrate by making up some of Minny’s Chocolate Pie. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, go ahead and watch the video below… or watch the movie. I haven’t actually seen the movie (don’t worry, it’s in our queue), but a friend clued me in about the pie! SPOILER ALERT, though… I think this part of the movie is kind of important, so if you don’t want to spoil it, don’t watch. Also, don’t watch if you are easily grossed-out and don’t want to spoil your dinner.

Anyways, here are a few links to recipes for “The Help”-themed Chocolate Pie. None of the recipes call for “terrible awful”, FYI.

Minny’s Chocolate Pie – (Food & Wine)
“The Help” Chocolate Pie – (Huffington Post)
Minny’s Mini Chocolate Pie – (BrownieBites.net)

Aussie Pie Chain Hits American Shores

Joel — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:33:59 +0000

UPDATE: I just noticed I was totally behind the curve on this one, Letterman had someone from Pie Face on the show before my post, as this YouTube video was posted on Feb. 8. Looks like Dave and Paul thought the pies were pretty good. But, yes, is the answer to “Will Pie Face’s strategic location work?”

Here in Portland, we already have access to awesome Australian-style pies, but the rest of the nation may be getting some more exposure to Aussie pies soon, as Pie Face has opened in New York, just under the Ed Sullivan Theater on West 53rd.

Interesting store location, I wonder if they were strategically trying to get David Letterman’s attention? Letterman, as we’ve discussed at length on this blog, has a certain affinity for pie. But will he feel the same about Australian pies?

Pie Face was founded in 2003 and has 63 stores in Australia and claims to be opening three new stores each month in the country. They are clearly hoping for expansion in the U.S., as they were heavily pitching franchises in the article I read.

I’m always skeptical of rapidly expanding pie chains like this, they have really flashy marketing and make bold claims, but I feel like they’re in it for the money and their heart isn’t in it & that’s what’s important with pie, right? But, I’ll keep an open mind – and if anyone has tried Pie Face pies, comment below with your thoughts!

Watch & Learn About David Letterman’s Pie Addiction

Image borrowed from Pie Face’s Facebook page.

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Oregon Pie History: Crater Lake Ice Cream Pies, Klamath Falls

Joel — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:13:33 +0000

I spotted this old Crater Lake Ice Cream Pie box at an antique shop in Cannon Beach recently. It was sold by Klamath Falls Creamery in Klamath Falls… looks fairly old, maybe 60s or 70s-era. The Klamath Falls Creamery building still stands today, it is now home to Klamath Basin Brewing Company’s “The Creamery Brewpub & Grill“. A large neon blue cow from the original creamery building, built in 1935, still stands today.

Did anyone out there ever have Crater Lake Ice Cream pies? Were they good? Tell me about it – comment below!

Pie Judgin’ Ain’t Easy

Joel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:40:03 +0000

Comment Below on Your National Pie Day Activities for a Chance to Win a Copy of “Pie Contest in a Box”

Thanks to Pacific Pie Company for hosting a great National Pie Day Pie Contest yesterday and for inviting me to be a judge!

The contest was a lot of fun and there were some great submissions! Here are a few photos from the event:

Look for the 1st Place winners on Pacific Pie Co’s menu in February! The winners were:

1st Place Sweet: Judith for Cherry Pie
1st Place Savory: Eric for Pork + Sweet Potato Pie
People’s Choice Award: Autumn for Meyer Lemon Hibiscus Pie -
2nd Choice Sweet: Richard for Pecan Pie
2nd Choice Savory: Veronica for Butternut Bliss

This was my second experience judging pies. It’s always fun, because it gives me a chance to see how my pie-tasting stacks up with other experts, so I was pleased to see that my favorites were mostly in-line with the results.

Pacific Pie Co.’s owner, Sarah Curtis-Fawley, used the “Pie Contest in a Box” kit to run the contest, and I have to say, I was very impressed by the organization of the contest. The scorecards really helped me focus my thoughts on what I was judging and I think it helped the organizers tally the results easily.

With that said, I’ve been sitting on a copy I received of “Pie Contest in a Box” for far too long – so in the spirit of National Pie Day, I’m giving away my copy!

Pie Contest in a Box, written by Gina Hyams, includes a book that “orients judges to the history of pie, discusses why pie matters, outlines different categories of pie and official judging criteria, and includes prize-winning recipes.” Plus, it includes everything you need to run a pie contest, including Pie Contest Judge Badges, Numbered Pie Toppers, Scorecards and Prize Ribbons!

So, here’s the deal, to enter yourself for a chance to win Pie Contest in a Box – tell us what you’re planning, or what you did, for National Pie Day by commenting below! Make sure to use an email address I can reach you at to get your shipping address if you win! I’ll leave it open until Jan. 27 – good luck!

2012 National Pie Day Rundown for Portland

Joel — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:31:48 +0000

January 23 is National Pie Day, as deemed by the American Pie Council (not to be confused with Pi Day, March 14, as deemed by nerds everywhere).

Here is a rundown of events and specials planned by Portland area pie purveyors! Keep checking back throughout the week, the list is bound to grow!

Events

Baker & Spice Birthday Bash - National Pie Day, coincidentally, falls around the same time as the birthday of Hillsdale’s Baker & Spice. And, Baker & Spice, coincidentally, makes amazing pie. They celebrate all weekend long, January 21-22 and will be serving up meringue pie-lets, savory pot pies, drawings & giveaways, balloons and coloring for the kids! They also have pies by the slice for $4, which you can’t always find there, so it’s a grand occasion indeed! Plus, 25% of sales off their Pie Day menu will be gifted to Neighborhood House - so eat pie for a good cause!
Pacific Pie Co. Pie Contest - Pacific Pie Company will host its 1st Annual Pie Contest in celebration of National Pie Day. The pie contest will be held on Sunday, January 22 at 1pm at Pacific Pie Company’s bakery and restaurant in SE Portland. Judges include Jen Stevenson (author of 100 Best Places to Stuff Your Faces), Chris Hertel (farmer at SunGold Farm in Forest Grove), Kate Withiam (Pacific Pie Co. Pastry Chef) and yours truly. Prizes will be awarded for the top pies, and the 1st place sweet and savory pies will be featured on Pacific Pie Co’s menu in February.
Random Order Coffeehouse + Caffe Vita - Random Order & Caffe Vita are partnering on pie and coffee pairings on January 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Random Order and on January 21 at 4 p.m. at Caffe Vita Alberta. They will pair Kentucky Pecan with Fair Trade Organic Theo Blend, Flirty Berry with Single Origin Columbian and Herbed Cream Cheese & Sundried Tomatoes with Single Origin Kenyan. The pairing events are FREE. See below for pie day specials.

Specials

Baker & Spice - See above.
Divine Pie – Divine Pie, producer of raw & whole food pies (gluten & dairy free), will offer a buy 6 get 1 free card at the Winter Farmer’s Market at Shemanski Park in Portland on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 10 to 2 p.m.
Helen Bernhard Bakery - $1 off their normally low-priced whole pies on Monday, Jan. 23.
The Original Dinerant - If you “like” their Facebook page and make a comment on it…..they’ll give you a mini pie on the January 23. Pastry chef, Sally Bowers, is making all kinds of mini pies, including moon pies, whoopie pies and fried pies.
Pacific Pie Co. - $3 slices all day on National Pie Day (Jan. 23)
Random Order Coffeehouse + Caffe Vita - $6 for a cup of French Press and a slice of pie on January 23 at Random Order & Caffe Vita on Alberta.
Salt & Straw Scoop Shop: Mention code word “PIE HOLE” to get a free scoop of ice cream with purchase of a slice of Pieku Pie Apple Pie on Pie Day.
Shari’s – Shari’s has a coupon up on their Facebook page for a free slice, with the purchase of a lunch or dinner entree.
Village Inn: Get $2 off a whole pie all week long (Jan. 22-27)

If you just want to find a good slice of pie near you to celebrate Pie Day, make sure to check out our Ultimate Portland Pie Guide.

Pacific Pie Co. Hosts First Annual Pie Contest for National Pie Day

Joel — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:10:13 +0000

Pacific Pie Co., Portland’s premier Australian pie-purveyor, is hosting its first annual pie contest on Sunday, January 22, in observance of National Pie Day, which is January 23.

This should be a fun day, as the winners for sweet and savory will get to have their pies on the Pacific Pie Co. menu for the month of February.

Oh, and I’m honored to be a pie judge for the contest, so that’s awesome too! Jen Stevenson (author of 100 Best Places to Stuff Your Faces and blogger at underthetablewithjen.com), Chris Hertel (farmer at SunGold Farm in Forest Grove), and Kate Withiam (Pacific Pie Co. Pastry Chef) will join me on the panel.

Bring your pies in by 1 p.m. that day, and the judging commences at 2 p.m.

Keep an eye out for more National Pie Day news in the next couple of weeks, as usual, I’ll have a full rundown of events and specials planned in Portland and surrounding areas.