Table Hopping – September 2010
“Search for the perfect piece of pie”
Upper Crust Pie Company
(Inside Pryde's Old Westport)
115 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 561-4990
Pryde’s has been a mecca for kitchen gadget lovers in KC for over 40 years. Located on the lower level in back of their jam-packed kitchen shop is the Upper Crust. Upper Crust sells an impressive selection of homemade seasonal pies every Friday and Saturday. Sisters, Jan and Elaine, sell by the slice, or have petite pies for around $7 that feed 1-2, or full-sized fruit, nut or cream pies for around $19. Their bumbleberry pie is my favorite. (Psst, bumbleberry is a mixed berry pie, not a type of fruit.) They use a 100% butter crust on all of their pies. Taste the difference and the texture. IN: the mood for something savory first, try their quiche for lunch before you have pie for dessert.
The Courthouse Exchange
113 West Lexington Avenue
Independence, MO 64050
(816) 252-0344
The Courthouse Exchange is a popular bar and restaurant owned by the keepers of Independence Square, Ken and Cindy McClain. Cindy McClain’s stepmother, Sally, is credited for making the pies at Courthouse Exchange, but for a while you could see their pretty pie cooling in the widow of Ophelia’s Bakery which was not open to the public. Sneak down into this basement location, for some pie action that will really impress. A chalkboard on the wall lists the 4-5 types of pie available. The pies are made with fresh fruit in season, so the selection is constantly changing. Try a slice of their blackberry/peach pie with flaky homemade crust for only $3.99. GO: into Gilbert, Whitney & Co. kitchen shop located just down the street to browse.
Corner Cafe
4541 NW Gateway Avenue
Riverside, MO 64150
(816) 741-2570
The Corner Café in Riverside, owned by Ed and Kathi Rule, has always been a popular spot for breakfast or a cup of coffee. Now with 3 locations, clearly the Corner Café has found success making honest, home-cooked food. It is usually just these types of family run restaurants where you can find the best pie. Corner Café is no exception. They make a mean cream pie. Banana Cream and Coconut Cream pies are popular choices for $3.19 a slice. They also feature a special pie of the day. On Tuesdays try their Coco Loco Pie, featuring a scratch-made pecan crust layered with cream cheese and filled with chocolate pudding and coconut. CALL: ahead and order a whole pie for you to enjoy at home to ensure you get the kind of pie you like.
Pie Lady Coffeehouse
13408 Santa Fe Trail Drive
Shawnee Mission, KS 66215
(913) 438-7200
Marcia “The Pie Lady” Prentiss biggest claim to fame, aside from being the owner of a popular coffee and pie shop in Lenexa, is the fact that she baked a sweet potato pie for President Obama when he was running for the office and visiting Kansas City on a campaign stop. Her darling pie pit-stop is located in downtown Lenexa. With colorful Formica tables and matching chairs, the Pie Lady Coffeehouse has a homey feel. The selection of homemade pies changes seasonally here too, but if you are lucky enough to be there when she has made her creamy peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust, you must get a slice. Her fruit pies are also a must try. TAKE: your pie to-go, the Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park is just down the street.
Rob’s Cafe
15014 E. US Hwy 40
Kansas City, MO 64136
(816) 350-2092
This tiny little shoebox of a diner is located on Hwy 40 sandwiched between a couple of no-tell motels, but do not let that prevent you from paying Rob’s Café a visit. You will be rewarded with one of the best pie experiences in Kansas City. This joint was formerly Debbie’s Diner, until Rob Griffey, who used to be a cook at Little Richard’s Family Restaurant, decided to buy it and strike out on his own. He brings with him an obvious love for scratch cooking, and a knack for making incredible pie. He offers around 6-8 different pies along with sugar-free pie selections, although they are not made in-house. TRY: the gooseberry or the coconut pecan pie with fresh whipped cream on top. You will be in the clean plate club.
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