MSP American Pie???

[Scotty2hotty]

Having just moved back to the twin cities from out west, I am in need for a fix I have gotten used to in the last ten years. Once a month I find a great place for banana cream pie, pick it up before all my errands for the day, then return home to enjoy a piece of heaven.

I live in south Minneapolis. Willing to drive. Any advice???
-S2H

[apostolicwanderer]

I'm not sure if it borders on blasphemy to post a rec from a chain here, but I had the B.C. Pie at Redstone and it was the best I've had. I'm sure it wouldn't hold up to Birchwood's, though.

I love the Norske Nook!

AW

[Scotty2hotty]

Thank you ALL, for the options and opinions of where to go. Ya'll just made my transition of moving back home all that much better. Scotty2hotty

[Abacus]

At 9pm tonight (Sunday), a knock on my door got me off the couch to find two friends bundled up holding a pie of banana cream pie they brought back from Norske Nook near Hayward, WI for me - I live in Minneapolis. They dropped off the pie and dashed off - leaving me confused but delighted! I must have been talking about banana cream pie all week and miracles happen - at least PIE HAPPENS! It was lovely!

[AnneInMpls]

Banana Cream Pie has been spotted at Carol's Restaurant in Blaine. It's on the pre-printed menu, so it seems like it's available every day. The slices in the bakery counter looked lovely and goopy (no artificial stabilizers in that pie!) and huge.

I was going to sample a piece, in the name of research, but after I ate an entire hot turkey sandwich for lunch, I just couldn't eat any more. But if their pie is half as good as the stuffing that came with my HTS, it's well worth the drive.

Carol's Restaurant
11888 Aberdeen Street NE, Blaine
(one block off of Central Ave/Hwy 65, almost at Main St.)
763-757-9700

Anne

P.S. If you ever want a whole pie from the Birchwood, you can call and order one a few days ahead.

[faith]

Hey, Anne, how about a Chowdown for desserts at Birchwood? Just a fleeting fantasy.

[AnneInMpls]

The Birchwood Cafe does a great banana cream pie. The black-bottom version is even better. They don't have it every day, but you can call to see when it's available.

http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/

And why not check out Jerabek's Bakery in St. Paul? I think they do some nice two-crust fruit pies (never tried 'em - at least, not yet), so they might have banana cream. Again, it's worth a call.

http://www.jerabeks.com/

Anne

[Chris Mitra]

OMG yeah, the banana cream pie at Birchwood. And the coconut cream. Mmmmm.

I've never had the black-bottom. Would that be... oreo crust?

[AnneInMpls]

The Birchwood's black-bottom banana cream pie has a layer of fudge - or chocolate ganache - between the crust and the banana cream filling. This pie is amazing. I've never had it at the restaurant, but I ordered a whole pie for a party once, and ended up eating much of it myself. Ooooooooooooooooooh!

And Birchwood's Key Lime Pie is even better.

Anne

[faith]

I just have to chime in here my agreement on Birchwood's banana cream pie,
although they seem never to have it when I call. But the truth is they have plenty
of other amazing stuff so it's worth going over to see what's there. Also I have
to mention Turtle Bread in a previous incarnation had an amazing banana cream
pie with about a 15 layer stack of beautiful sliced bananas and a giant mound of
whipped cream. Unfortunately it's only in my memory, but it's a good memory.

[zataar]

If you ever do the Highway 61 drive south, stop at The Historic Anderson House, in Wabasha. Very good pie.

[dahlsk]

There's also a Norske Nook in Osseo (2 hour straight shot E on 94) but what about Turtle Bread? They usually have good pies, but I don't crave Banana Cream like you do. At least the location is good for you: 48th and Chicago Ave S.

[Jordan]

Turtle Bread has excellent baked goods. However, I've never seen a banana cream (or any cream) pie there. They usually have fruit pies.

I don't really have any recommendations for the Twin Cities. The Norske Nook in Osseo makes a great banana cream ... heck of a round trip, though.

[shoo bee doo]

The Seward Coop on Franklin does great banana cream and key lime pies. You can even buy just one piece to try it out.

[dotMac]

I keep seeing those pies and slices, but skip them every time. They're so convenient next to the obligatory milk...

[Davydd]

Bye bye Miss American Pie...the day the music died. This thread title triggered and reminded me of the anniversary - Buddy Holly, JP Richardson (the Big Bopper) and Richie Valens.

You could take a day trip to the North Shore north of Two Harbors and try Betty's Pies.

[Chris Mitra]

I heard they were opening a second Betty's Pies in Lino Lakes. I'm not sure what ever became of that.

[dotMac]

I know they opened a second location in Duluth and it folded less than a year later.

[bob s]

Betty's really went down hill in the 80s and early 90s. I used to drive by 2-3 times a week in the summer, but stopped going there. Perhaps they've picked up the quality again, but I sure wouldn't want to risk a day just for Betty's. (Not to say that there aren't other reasons to head up that way.)

Bob

[The Dairy Queen]

I like the idea of Betty's pies better than the actual experience of Betty's pies, at least the one or two experiences I've had there. It wasn't awful by any means, it just wasn't as exceptional and homey as I imagined it might be.

I didn't know it in the 80s or 90s, but, from the history they've printed on the menus, it seems maybe they've changed ownership a couple of times, so, maybe something was lost in transitions.

Sadly, I don't have anything better to recommend, though. Key's Cafe (several locations throughout the Twin Cities, including one in Roseville at Lexington & Larpenteur and one in downtown St. Paul on Robert St.) usually has pretty good baked goods (I love the giant caramel rolls hot out of the oven). I haven't specifically noticed pies there, let alone any specific flavors of pies, but I will be on the lookout next time I'm there.

~TDQ

[Abacus]

Hey Scotty, I'm quite eager to hear some recommendations for banana cream pie as well because I flip for it. The best I've found is quite a hike - but it's crazy good. Norske Nook near Rice Lake, Hayward, Wisconson. www.norskenook.com/

But, please folks, ANYTHING near the Twin Cites?

[chefschmitty]

Here is a long drive but well worth the the trip, Whalen pie shop in Whalen MN. It's just off the bike trail in Lanesboro. Their pies are infamous in South East Minnesota.