NEW YORK CITY — Pie season is upon us.
For many bakeries in the city, Thanksgiving shifts more pies from shelf to mouth than any other time. The classics like apple and pumpkin fly out the door as do the artsy unique flavors, such as maple whisky walnut and salted honey.
"It is by far the biggest holiday," said Natalia Corridori, the manager at Artuso Pastries in The Bronx. "We do more [pies] in three days then we do for the whole month of Christmas."
Here’s how to get a good pie wherever you are in the city:
Petee's Pies at 61 Delancey St. on the Lower East Side
Price: $30 to $35
Petee's Pies is very much a family affair. It's run by husband and wife team Robert and Petra (her nickname is Petee). Ingredients such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes are grown on the family farm in North Virginia. Flavors range from dependable favorites to more unique offerings, such as chocolate bourbon pecan and maple whisky walnut. Orders can be placed on their website, via the phone or in the store, which is open until 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Four & Twenty Blackbirds at 439 Third Ave. in Gowanus and 10 Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights
Price: $40
This shop is baking up four kinds of pie ahead of Thanksgiving: salted honey, salted caramel apple, brown butter pumpkin and bittersweet chocolate pecan. You can order the pies through Four & Twenty Blackbirds' website where you can select your pie, your pickup day and your pickup location (either their Gowanus shop or at the Cafe at the Brooklyn Public Library Cafe).
Pie Corps at 77 Driggs Ave. in Greenpoint
Price: $35 to $37.50
Pie Corps came about through the partnership of a classically trained chef and an acupuncturist. Like many bakeries on this list, Pie Corps makes every thing from scratch. There are seven flavors for Thanksgiving, including apple crumb with caramel rosemary, Nantucket cranberry and marbled pumpkin chocolate. Place your order by Sunday, Nov. 22 in order to get your pie in time for Thanksgiving.
Artuso Pastry at 670 E. 187th St. Belmont in The Bronx
Price: $10.50 to $13.25
Artuso Pastry has been open under its current name since 1946. The bakery sells all the classics as well as some with an Italian spin such as a ricotta pie and meat and cheese pie. The manager, Natalia Corridori, recommended ordering ahead to avoid missing out.
Cake Chef Bakery at 957 Jewett Ave. Castleton Corner on Staten Island
Price: $12 to $15
Cake Chef Bakery's manager Jade Casciani described her pies as having a "very homemade taste." The bakery has a huge selection, from McIntosh apple to peach to sweet potato crunch. For something a little different, Casciani also suggested a melt-away tart with a butter crust, fillings, such as pumpkin, and crumbs to top it off. The bakery works on a first come, first served basis, so place your order early!
Martha's Country Bakery in Forest Hills, Bayside and Astoria, Queens
Price: $14.95 to $19
Martha's has almost a dozen pies to choose including a sour cream apple, cranberry walnut pie and coconut pie. Customers can order over the phone or walk in and order up to the day before Thanksgiving.
Pies 'n' Thighs on the Lower East Side and Williamsburg
Price: $30 to $40
If you want to know where the cool kids get their pies, it's here. Pies 'n' Thighs, a late-night hangout for drinks and hearty southern food, is as serious about its pies as the old-time bakeries. Along with the usual selection, flavors also include a bourbon pecan and a sour cherry pear crumble. Pre-orders are taken until Nov. 22 at 9 p.m. and there will be a limited number of walk-in pies available.
Two Little Red Hens at 1652 Second Ave. on the Upper East Side
Price: $32
Two Little Red Hens has four pies on offer for Thanksgiving: pumpkin, apple, pecan and chocolate pecan. All pies are handmade with fresh ingredients. Even the apples are peeled by hand in the bakery. Orders must be made before Nov. 15. Some pies will be available for walk-ins in the days before Thanksgiving.
