Pie Week: Four and Twenty Blackbirds

The following is an exact transcription from note's taken live, on site, during pie consumption:

Four and Twenty Blackbirds:

Gowanus, Brooklyn

Heading back to Brooklyn. 

Bringing Jessie with me in case of Emergency.

Drank a lot of water all day in preparation.

After a quick subway ride from Soho, we walk up to an unassuming, street corner, joint. 

Friendly atmosphere.
Maybe a little hipster elitist, but the furniture seems friendly.

Cool antique forks.

Large, sturdy wood tables.

A general feel that matches and compliments the neighborhood in which it lives. 

Really inventive flavors.

I feel like they invented Pie.

I feel like they looked at an apple pie, threw away any recipe or notion of it that they might have had and started to reclaim each component from scratch to construct their perfect pie. 

Black bottom oat

Pecan filling without pecans

Oats on top

Chocolate bottom over the crust

dec.  a.  dent.

Jessie says: Weird after taste.

No way. 

This sucker is built for speed. 

So sweet and delicious.

The pecan-less pecan filling is genius.

And basically pie batter. 

And this, we have found, is truly the way to my heart. 

Salted caramel apple.

AMAAAAZZZINNNNNGGG.
I am so loving this "put some salt on it" trend that is happening in the dessert world. 
And just like wearing leggings under dresses, I don't want it to ever end.

Salt and caramel adds to a pie that is already perfectly crafted.

Not too salty.

Jessie disagrees. 

Too salty, she says.
She must not like leggings.

Thick crust.

Flakey.

Fresh apples. 

Could use a bit more caramel in my opinion. 

I see it, but I don't taste it.
It's taunting me. 
Still, I really like this pie. 

The homemade whipped cream.

A little chilled and super thick. 

To die for.

May even give Magnolia a run for it's money!

Overall Pie Week Grade: A

They do pie. And they do it well. 
I am already thinking of ways to fit in another visit before I leave. 

Not a great weekend for pie.

Friday: See this disaster.

Saturday: a pre-planned blackout day for Pie Week. Nothing to be alarmed about.

Sunday: I go to the Brooklyn Flea to get pie amongst the treasures of antique booths and the citizens of New York City. Instead, I faint due to dehydration.

No pie. No treasures.

Just me, some homeless people and free water at the cooling triage.

Pie Week: Baked

The following is an exact transcription from note's taken live, on site, during pie consumption:

Baked:

Red Hook, Brooklyn

That awkward moment when you're the only person in the whole entirety of Marc Jacobs International that isn't 21 on Margarita Fridays.

Plus side: This means I get off of work at 4:00.

I suppose this is God's way of telling me he's a fan of pie week.

Off to Brooklyn I go.

8 train stops. 

Finally in Red Hook.

Toto, we're not in manhattan anymore.

This is definitely Brooklyn Brooklyn.

Not hipster Brooklyn.

Jay-Z Brooklyn.

I do like this mural, though. 

The things I do for this blog.

Was not expecting such a far walk from the train station. 

Let it be known that this is a sketchy part of town. 

If I go missing and someone finds this phone, know that I was in pursuit of pie. 

It's a million degrees out. 

This better be a la mode.

No, seriously, I think I'm being followed.

I'm here. 

This looks promising.

Super cool vibe. 

So cool, that I'm allowed to use the word "vibe."

Me likey.

THEY HAVE NO PIE.

THEY ARE OUT OF PIE. 

THEY HAVE NO PIE. 

THERE IS NO PIE HERE. 

NO PIE. 

BUT. 

BUT.

BUT. 

THERE'S NO PIE. 

IS THIS A JOKE.

I feel faint.

The woman behind the counter asks me if I'd like anything else instead.

Anything else instead!? 

No!

I'm here for PIE!!!! 

The pie that you guys are famous for!

I feel like a cat out of a bag. 

I'm mixing up two phrases.

I feel like a wild cat.  

I feel like a Cat out of Hell. 

I stand there speechless for about 20 seconds before I verbally and mentally crash by saying "ummmmmm...." and holding the mmmm sound for a solid 15 extra unnecessary seconds before telling her Im going to need a second.

Ok, Julia. 

Regroup.

I suppose I will partake in a grasshopper bar. 

And I need an iced coffee.

They don't have decaf.

Coffee is a no-go.

$10 minimum on credit cards.

I have no cash.

This isn't my day.

3 more blocks to an ATM. 

Did I mention that it feels like its 98 degrees out today with 85% humidity?

OK. 

Back at the bakery.

I pay.

I sit. 

I eat.

This grasshopper bar isn't even that good.

I've never been so ambivalent about a dessert in my whole life.

God? 

Are you listening? 

I know you read what I blogged about earlier-- when I said I was sick of pie... 

But I take it all back! 

I didn't know what I was saying. 

I'm sorry. 

I'll never smite Pie Week again. 

Just give me a chance to prove myself. 

Please!

This ice water is delicious though.


Today, I learned a hard lesson.
Something about not realizing what you have until its gone or whatever. 

Overall Baked Pie Week Grade:

DISQUALIFIED.

PIE WEEK FAIL.

Barf.

Are you guys, like, totes bored with Pie Week? Because, I gotta be honest... I'm getting there. Little known fact about Julia: I have the attention span of a fly (see: haircuts). And the fact that I have followed through with four real visits to four real pie shops is pretty impressive for me. Not gonna lie. But technically I have three on the list to go! I mean, I have to keep going. I will always wonder about those pies if I were to bail last minute, but I can't help from daydreaming about a big fat ice cream sundae right now. Waaahhhh....

Pie Week: The Little Pie Company

The Little Pie Company: 

Midtown

Boyz II Men.

Michael Jackson.

Brian Mcknight.

Fluorescent lighting.

A framed picture of Jamie Foxx.

No signature.

Just a framed head shot.

Old men sitting outside.

I notice all of this within the first minute of walking in the door. 

This place is legit. 

THE PIE COMES WARM

Mississippi mud pie

Ummm. 

What? 

Am I eating heaven?

Because this is what heaven tastes like.

This whole pie basically consists of half baked brownie batter.

In other words: heaven.

And Usher just came on.

I've found the Mothership.

So decadent.

Only downfall is that it's so deliciously rich that it's hard to eat the whole thing.

This is a welcomed challenge.

A

Sour Cream Apple Walnut

I can't.

I can't.

This is it, you guys.

Why even continue?

This is the best apple pie.

In the world.

The crust is so flavorful.

Very brown sugary.

But still flaky and delicious.

Sidenote:

A man just came into the shop for the chocolate pudding cup. 

Apparently, it's his third of the day.

#locals

My attention is back on the pie.

Apples are very thinly sliced. 

Paper thin.

Hardly any sauciness going on. 

Some sort of sour cream and cinnamon concoction.

More boys to men is playing.

Little pieces of candied walnuts within the apples.

But not too many that I ever think to myself "Ugh, there are too many walnuts."

I am so very happy.

A+

As we walk out, I believe I can fly begins to play.

And I start to believe... maybe I can fly too...

Pie Week: Magnolia Bakery

The following is an exact transcription from note's taken live, on site, during pie consumption:

Magnolia Bakery: 

West Village

Hard to remain unbiased with magnolia bakery.

I've been here many times before.

And it's in my favorite neighborhood of all time (New York City, speaking).

It is also sort of one of those notoriously popular NYC destination spot kind of bakeries, so I'm expecting great things.

But I've never had their pie.

Just walking with Jessie (co-conspirator in all things pie panned) down 6th and across Bleecker to get to the bakery puts me in a good mood. 

West Village, why's you gottsta be so fine?

Magnolia is as charming as ever.

Note to self: must invent a cheesecake week so I can have an excuse to try their Chocolate Pudding Oreo Cheesecake. 

Looks amaaazeee.

We go with the Apple Crisp, Berry Crisp, and Chocolate Pudding Pie. 

Editors Note: In case you're keeping track of the many feet pics I've taken in the last three months, yes, I have worn those sandals every day this summer. 

There isn't really anywhere to sit in Magnolia, so we take Pie Week to the streets.

Specifically, the lovely park across the street will do.

Apple crisp

Not warm

Generous amount of crumble.

No, you know what? 

I wouldn't really use the word "crumble" to describe what this is.

Crumble just doesn't really do it justice.

It's more like large boulders than crumble.

I'm thinking more Coliseum size ruins than crumble.

Apples are crunchy- this is good.

Heavy nutmeg and cinnamon- good.

Tastes like thanksgiving.

I want it to be fall.

Yum.

Solid.

A

Chocolate pudding pie

Is this supposed to be freezing? 

Because it is.

First Bite:

Um. Yes. Speechless.

But no. I have plenty to say.

This is amazing.

Everything I want in a pie.

Crust is compact but has dimensions.

Pudding is rich.

But, it's definitely still pudding and not mousse.
I hate when pudding tries to be mousse.
It's not trying to be anything it's not.

I totally appreciate that.

Whipped cream tastes light and fresh.

The ice cream at Bubby's and the Whipped cream at Magnolia could totally date.

A+

Berry crisp
Not served hot.

Crisp is a bit bland.

Ok- this isn't mixed berry.

Just blueberries.

Ugh.

I hate it.

This tastes like gasoline.
I want to spit it out.
But I'm a lady.
So, I just let it sit on my tongue as I let my jaw hang open and I make a whiny noises. 

I hate it.

D+

And ONLY because Jessie talks me down from being unnecessarily cruel and giving them an anger induced F.
Her argument being that it is technically still edible, so it can't qualify for an F. 
True.  

This is a tough grade to give. 

We have two extremes here. 

The cream of the crop in pudding pies and the world's worst blueberry pie ever to exist. 

Ultimately, I love Magnolia, but I think pie may not be their selling point. 

Stick to their cupcakes. 

Or their seemingly delectable cheesecakes. 

Ultimately, my experience was best described as "Nice."

B+

Pie Week: Quick Sabbatical

No, 'Quick Sabbatical' is not the name of uber hip pie shop in Bushwick-- although, I would totally go there if it did exist.

My extremely tight, top-secret, scientifically crafted Pie Week schedule was thrown off last night when I discovered that one of the places on the list is closed for the summer from July 30th-August 6th. Don't they know that is right in the heart of pie week?!? Come on.

That left me with a gap in a schedule and a hole in my heart as I wandered the streets of New York City panhandling for a "slice of the good stuff." But, no luck. I cried myself to sleep last night as I whispered the words "a la mode" in my sleep.

Suffice it to say, it was a rough night for me. But I woke up this morning with the promise of a new day and a fresh chance of finding the pie of our generation.

Pie Week: Buttercup Bake Shop

The following is an exact transcription from note's taken live, on site, during pie consumption:

Buttercup Bake Shop

Midtown East

6 train has a three hour delay

The shop closes in an hour. 

Not enough time to walk.
I guess I'll take a cab.

This might be the worst cabbie I've had all summer.
That's saying a lot.
I hope I live to eat this pie.

Ok.
Here.
Alive.

$11 cab ride.
This pie better be worth it.

Ok. Now, this is a bakery. No fuss. No muss. Just sugar. And frosting.
This place isn't trendy at all which makes it unknowingly super trendy.

They only sell they're pies whole.
It seems I may have to buy a whole pie.
Oh! A Loop hole! A 6 inch pie! wonderful! I mean, still-- a lot of pie-- but who's complaining?

I'm going with the peach pandowdy.
They seal it in a white box.
I guess this means I'm taking it to-go.

Walking out, the girl behind the counter says she likes my hair. 

Does she know there is a competition going on? 

Good move. 

5 points.



Walking home now, it sinks in that I have just allowed myself to buy a whole pie. For the sake of experience. And pie week. A week that I invented that ultimately has no affect on anything.
I feel no Remorse.

Ok. I'm home. Let's crack this baby open.

Crust. Outstanding. Crunchy with a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar on top.

Peach filling is not up to par with last nights peaches. They are cut into little cubes- which doesn't prove anything, but it also implies that they aren't fresh.

Definitely more syrupy. This is a quality I was trying to avoid.

This pie is good. This pie is not great. This is pie that you make after googling "worlds best pie recipe" and trying to make it for the first time. When I close my eyes, I see nothing. I don't see grandma pulling it out of the oven or fireworks or kittens. I see nothing.  Just a pie.

Ultimately, I feel bad for the guys. The bar was set so high by last nights pie, how could this compare?

But let me stress again-- crust: outstanding.

Overall Pie Week Grade: 83%

Update: it's 20 minutes later. I just ate, like, all the crust off the pie.

Pie Week: Bubby's

The following is an exact transcription from note's taken live, on site, during pie consumption:

Bubby's Pies 

TriBeCa

Welcoming atmosphere

Very comfortable

I want to live and die in TriBeCa

Apple pie:

very apple-y... in a good way 

apples not overcooked

still maintain apple-like properties

crust could have been flakier

it seemed over worked, perhaps?

Peach Crumble:

 sweet, but not too sweet

very little peachy syrupy business going on

what I mean is that it's being sweetened by the peaches and not by goop 

could have used more crumble

...then again, can you ever have too much crumble? 

This remains to be seen in the following week. 

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream: 

amazing

so so so fresh

I feel like I'm drinking cream straight from a cow's utters... in a good way

Pie not served hot

tisk tisk

Overall:
Tastes home made
Showcases the fruit
Overall Pie Week Grade: 94%