North Jersey restaurants that opened in 2022
Best Pie
207 Second Ave., entrance on 13th St.; 212-254-3500
There is no simpler pie than a chess pie: eggs, butter, corn flour, sugar, brown sugar, and that's about it. And yet there couldn't be more confusion about the origin of the name. Some say it's a derivation of "cheese pie" (certain pies were called cheese pies way back when even though they contained no cheese). Others say the name comes from the fact that pies were kept in a "pie chest" or "pie safe," maybe to protect them from hoboes and pie burglars. Another theory holds that when a modest southern housewife was asked "What kind of pie is that?," she said, "It's just pie," but in a voice like Dustin Hoffman's Tootsie, so that it came out as "It's jes' pie." An aged pie-lover in the crowd who must have forgotten his ear trumpet interpreted this as "chess pie." To put an end to this mayhem, the folks at Momofuku Milk Bar have given the treasured southern confection a nice new name: "crack pie." Whatever you think of that, the supersweet Momo version is awfully addictive, although, in the manner of a cheeseless cheese pie, crackless. The crumbly crust is good enough to eat on its own, the top is a little caramelized, like a crème brûlée, and the filling achieves a kind of heretofore unknown pie texture: somewhere between a nice lemon curd and a soft fudge, like the best pecan-pie filling you've ever had, except without the pecans.
See AlsoMore Desserts From Adam Platt's Where to Eat 2009
Angus Barn's Chocolate Chess Pie
The recipe was hand delivered by then owner, Alice Eure to pastry chef Betty Shugart. "I want you to do something different with this recipe just for the Angus Barn," Shugart said as she remembered her orders from Eure. With some tinkering to this southern classic pie recipe, Angus Barn's Chocolate Chess Pie is the most famous dessert and voted best dessert at the /*Toast of The Triangle 2007*/.
Carolyn Turner turns out 60-70 pies a day; not just for customers at the restaurant, but for hundreds of requests from around the world. "We send them out every day," Turner said. Around Christmas the requests for the pies double. Alonnie Watkins as worked at the Angus Barn for 24 years. When asked if she has every gotten tired of this famous dessert she said, "You don't get tired of it. You love it. It's the best dessert to have when you need something sweet."
Recipe below
Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie
1. Melt butter and chocolate, mix with other ingredients, which have been blended together.
2. Pour into a pie shell and bake 35 minutes (no longer) at 350 degrees.
3. Top with whipped cream.
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This Pie Ranks As The Best In SC — But Don't Expect It To Be Sweet. Why Fans Love It
A South Carolina cafe serves the best pies in the state — but don't expect them to taste sweet, new rankings show.
That's because the top-ranking pie is a tomato pie, a savory side that people can't get enough of, according to the restaurant review website Yelp.
The winning pies are served hot at Stono Market & Tomato Shed Café on Johns Island, in the Charleston area. On Yelp, several customers raved about the dish, which they said was rich and complemented other Southern classics on the menu.
For some, it was their first time tasting tomato pie, and their reactions helped the cafe earn more than four out of five stars.
So what is tomato pie?
"Our tomato pie is a savory pie," Stono Market & Tomato Shed Café told McClatchy News in a March 10 email. "It's a casserole style pie with a thin biscuit crust, layers of tomato and onion, seasoned with salt, pepper and basil, topped with a mixture of cheddar cheese and mayo."
While the origin of the dish is full of speculation, it has become a tasty way to get rid of extra tomatoes. If you want to make some yourself, South Carolina tourism officials recommend starting with your favorite pie crust, then building on it with onions, cheese and seasonings. Of course, their version calls for two Palmetto State ingredients: Duke's mayonnaise and local tomatoes.
"No matter which recipe you use, you'll want to thinly slice your tomatoes, arrange between layers of paper towels, sprinkle with a little salt and leave them alone for a few minutes," the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism wrote on its website. "This will help leach out excess fluid and prevent a watery, soggy pie."
Stono Market & Tomato Shed Café's version earned statewide recognition after Yelp said it studied pie-related businesses and concentrated on the "most unique flavors found on each menu." It "ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning 'pie'" over time, according to results published March 1.
"The Tomato Shed Café offers chef-inspired menus featuring locally grown foods and ingredients from around the Carolinas," the restaurant wrote on its website. "Here at the Tomato Shed Café, we keep it simple. No fancy plates or glasses. No gimmicks. Just great food that speaks directly to your palate."
Though the business' savory tomato creation was named the best in the state, customers also can get their fix of dessert pies. Those include apple, pecan and chocolate chess pie, according to an online menu.
Stono Market & Tomato Shed Café, located at 842 Main Road, isn't the first place on Johns Island to earn statewide recognition. In May, nearby Low Tide Brewing ranked as the No. 1 brewery in South Carolina, McClatchy News reported.
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Originally published March 13, 2023, 9:47 AM
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