AAA Traveler - Summer 2015 - 27

New Orleans

best place for a slice

Yes, of course you can indulge
in the sugary likes of P's and
Q's' Chocolate Bonanza
and Dutch Apple pies, but
we were intrigued by the
menu's savory side. Features
include Boeuf Bourguignon
and Coq au Vin pot pies;
Mushroom, Fennel,
Smoked Gouda Quiche;
and Summer Tomato Pie.

famous for their

Everybody has their
favorites, says owner Betsy
Matthews-"probably the
one people ask about most is
the tomato pie"-but
because her menu changes
every week to offer six new
sweet and four new savory
selections, repeat customers
come prepared for a
culinary adventure.

secret ingredient

The secret? A lot of hard
work, says Matthews, who
regularly swings by the
farmer's market before
baking her pies in small
batches. "I make each pie as if
I was making it for my mom."

post-pie visit

best place for a slice

Ask pretty much anybody in
NYC, and they know about
the Milk Bar (sister bakery of
the Momofuku restaurants).
It's so popular, in fact, that
there are now six locations in
the city and one in Toronto.

famous for their

All Milk Bar cookies, pies
and cakes look like they
belong in a modern dessert
museum, but for pie
enthusiasts, two menu
items-the crack pie and
the candy bar pie-attract
ardent fervor.

secret ingredient

Because of our weakness for
the sweet and salty, sampled
the candy bar pie. A play on
the Take 5 candy bar, one
bite packs a powerful
chocolatey-crunchy punch.
Salty caramel, peanut butter
nougat and pretzels
intermingle with chocolate
layers, leaving you feeling
satisfied on every level.

post-pie visit

While your culinary
creativity is at an all-time
high, feed your inner
bibliophile with a visit to
Strand Bookstore on
Broadway in the East
Village. "Eighteen miles" of
books span three stories.
Rare leather-bound books,
new hard-cover books,
cookbooks, biography, art,
photography; browse to your
heart's content.

St. Louis

best place for a slice

Houston

best place for a slice

Locals don't mind trekking
across the Missouri River to
St. Charles for a slice at 4
Seasons Bakery. Just two
years after their grand
opening, husband and wife
team Agi and Aaron Groff
secured the 2012 "Best Pie
in St. Louis" award.

The oldest family-ownedand-operated bakery in
town, the Flying Saucer Pie
Company on Crosstimbers
has been a Houstonian
favorite for almost 50 years,
mixing up an array of pies
from scratch every morning.

famous for their

If you want the best
strawberry pie in town (and
arguably the country), you'll
have to ready your taste buds
while standing in line. On a
typical day, the Flying
Saucer Pie Company sells
anywhere from 60 to 300
strawberry creme pies.

Strawberry rhubarb
complete with a German
streusel topping practically
fly out the door when
rhubarb is in season. The
filling's texture is just
right-not too runny, not too
thick. "We buy eggs from a
local farmer who shared a
secret," Aaron says. "You use
tapioca to congeal the filing."

secret ingredient

You won't find shortening in
any of the Groff's pies.
Instead, Aaron and Agi
swear by butter for the best
flavor. "Our pies are
completely from scratch,"
Aaron says. "Plus, with
butter you can get those nice
layers in the dough."

post-pie visit

Who eats pie without ice
cream? St. Louis is known
for its frozen custard; finish
off your sweet tooth with a
scoop at Ted Drewes. Then
walk it all off with a trip to
the zoo. On a stroll through
the "Red Rocks" zone, you'll
visit lions, tigers, zebras and
jaguars. Admission is free!

famous for their

secret ingredient

Owner Bill Leeson won't let
a preservative anywhere near
his creations. "Real sugar is
an essential ingredient," he
proclaims. That means your
strawberry cream pie has a
two-day shelf life. So find a
friend, two forks, and have at it.

post-pie visit

Considered one of the best
in the country, Houston's
skyline can best be seen
from the 60th floor
observation deck at the
downtown Chase Tower.
Not only is the Chase
Tower Houston's tallest, it's
also the tallest five-sided
building in the world. The
deck is open to visitors
during business hours.

IMAGE:S:

Walk out Matthews' front
door and turn left or right; if
you like to shop, you can't go
wrong on Magazine Street. A
plethora of antique stores; art
galleries featuring pottery,
printmaking, oils;
clothing boutiques
and accessories
unite in the
city's premier
shopping
district.

Manhattan

TRAVELER SUMMER 2015

27
AAA Traveler - Summer 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Summer 2015
