What could possibly entice people to form a line in the middle of a cold, wintry night, waiting for a store to open its doors at 7 a.m.? Pies. Not just any old pies, but one-of-a-kind, handmade, chock-full-of-goodies pies. The Flying Saucer Pie Company (436 West Crosstimbers, 713-694-1141) has been making fresh fruit and cream pies in 20 varieties for the past 35 years. A simple question — “Which is the best?” — drew an immediate response from staff and patrons alike. The strawberry cream ($8.50) outsells all the others by a three-to-one margin. Each hand-formed, ten-inch pie crust is filled with fresh strawberries in a thick, almost syrupy filling. Then a two-inch layer of fresh whipped cream is swirled on top. It’s hard to describe the enjoyment of a freshly made pie and the memories it can evoke. Suffice it to say that this is not one of those pies you devour; like a sipping whiskey, it is to be savored slowly.
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2003.