The Obligatory Celebration Of The Mathematical Constant π (Pi)
Celebrate with these Utah Bakeries and Eateries
Written By Catherine Tarbet-Webb for My Local Utah
The Obligatory Celebration Of The Mathematical Constant π (Pi). Celebrate with these Utah Bakeries and Eateries. As Pi Day rolls around on March 14th (3/14), there’s no better way to celebrate the mathematical constant π (Pi) than by indulging in a pie. These mouthwatering, sweet, or savory treats have delighted taste buds for centuries. If you’re looking to satisfy your cravings, you’re in luck. Utah boasts an array of bakeries and eateries that serve up delectable pies worth celebrating. Here are some local spots to find tasty pies for this special occasion.
Idle Isle Cafe’ – Brigham City:
A sit-down restaurant and diner serving patrons since 1921, Idle Isle Cafe in Brigham City is a beloved icon known for its delicious, mouthwatering fruit pies. It is best known for its “Idle Berry Pie,” which includes blueberries, blackberries, and boysenberries. Each of their pies is made from scratch every day. Their original soda fountain counter of marble and onyx and hand-crafted wooden booths accent your visit with nostalgia. Larger groups can be seated at either of their two additional dining rooms.
The Bird – Syracuse:
If restaurants had a family tree, then The Bird in Syracuse, Utah, sits on a tasty branch. Owned by Maddox siblings, their upbringing revolved around the kitchen, as they worked alongside their parents at C&B Maddox Famous Chicken in Layton, Utah. The brothers Maddox were no strangers to the restaurant scene, having been immersed in it since childhood. Maddox Ranch House in Perry, just south of Brigham City, has been a culinary landmark for three-quarters of a century. Learning from the best, The Bird has incredible Mini Cream Pies: chocolate, banana, and raspberry cream.
Cherry Hill Pie Pantry – Kaysville:
The adorable Pie Pantry at Cherry Hill Waterpark in Kaysville specializes in homemade fruit pies. With a focus on quality and flavor, their pies feature a variety of fruit fillings encased in flaky, buttery crusts. Currently closed for the season and will reopen on Memorial Day through Labor Day Weekend and during Scary Hill in October. The Pie Pantry specializes in Cherry, Apple, Razzleberry, and Chapple (Cherry-Apple) Pie. Specialty Cream Pies are also available during summer, including Chocolate Cream, Banana Cream, and Coconut Cream. Try their Pie Pockets, delicious little turnovers stuffed with our various fruit pie fillings.
Fillings and Emulsions – Salt Lake City:
Salt Lake City is home to Fillings and Emulsions, a bakery known for its creative and flavorful sweet creations, with a rotating selection of seasonal offerings. Savory pies are their contribution to Pi Day: Traditional Cuban Meat Pie, Cuban Sandwich Meat Pie, and Chicken Meat Pie. Fillings and Emulsions has something for every preference.
Pie Fight – 9th & 9th:
Located in the vibrant 9th & 9th neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Pie Fight is a dessert shop specializing in handmade pies with super creative fillings. Sweet and savory pastries are currently in the lineup: Macaroni & Cheese, Boston Cream, and Blueberry Lemon. But flavors such as Savory Mushroom, Bacon & Swiss should make a return! Keep an eye out for their seasonal pie offerings, which feature a variety of delicious flavors crafted with locally sourced ingredients.
The Dodo Restaurant – Sugarhouse:
The famous chalkboard on the wall lists available specials and desserts/pie selections each day, but we all know why we are there. The Dodo is best known for their melt-in-your-mouth Toll House (chocolate chip cookie in a homemade pie crust.) Other options include Banana Cream Cheese Pie (ask for a side of caramel sauce), Chocolate Almond Mousse Pie, and a refreshing Key Lime Pie. The bar area of The Dodo is anchored with an antique metal and granite bar top imported from Paris, so be sure to gaze upon that beauty while you’re in.
Flake Pie Co – South Jordan:
We all love pie, but picking that flavor that will satisfy the whole family is always challenging. Flake Pie Co. has changed the rules on pie eating — Personal-size pies to meet everyone’s tastes. They use the freshest ingredients in their scratch-made bakery to make pies and Flakies (gourmet hand pies). Flake Pie Co. in South Jordan specializes in handcrafted pies made with love and care. Their pie flavors, When Carmel Met Chocolate, Sweet Child O’ Lime, and Raspberry Fields Forever, are sure to impress even the most discerning pie connoisseur.
June Pie- Heber City:
You’ll find your favorite here at June Pie, from sweet to savory. The Cookie Butter Banana is a traditional banana cream pie with a layer of Biscoff cookie spread covering the bananas. Snack Crack Pie is a gluten-free pie. Gooey Rice Chex with pretzels, coconut, and almonds make the crust, fill it with a vanilla bean custard, and top it with whipped cream. As for savory, Corned Beef Pie is an ode to St. Patrick’s Day. Oven-roasted cabbage, carrots, and potatoes mixed with slow-cooked corned beef and a creamy sauce and topped with a golden pie crust.
Veyo Pies – Veyo/St. George:
About 17 miles north of St. George, Utah, is the small town of Veyo, where you will find a charming pie shop known for its homemade pies made from scratch using recipes passed down through generations. Their fruit pies, featuring fillings like cherry, apple, and mixed berry, are beloved by locals and visitors alike. But their famous Veyo Volcano Pie is the local favorite! Named after the cinder cone down the highway, imagine a graham cracker crust stacked with layers of sweet cream cheese, butterscotch, and chocolate topped with whipped cream.
Sunglow Café – Bicknell:
The small town of Bicknell, Utah, is located in the heart of Capitol Reef Country, about 17 miles west of Capitol Reef National Park. The Sunglow Café is a local favorite for homestyle cooking and mouthwatering pies. The family restaurant is famed for its signature sweet dish — pickle pie. It sounds strange, but folks come from all over to taste this unusual dessert pie with its tangy mincemeat texture flavored with hints of cinnamon and allspice. The unique pie, with Depression-era roots, was created by the late Cula Ekker, dubbed the Pie Queen of Wayne County. Pinto Bean Pie is the second most famous Sunglow dessert. For a taste tour of Bicknell, order the sampler with half-slabs of pickle and pinto bean pies, along with buttermilk and oatmeal pies.
Thunderbird Restaurant – Mt. Carmel:
Mt. Carmel is the crossroads from Zion to Bryce and other parts of southeast Utah. It is also home to the Thunderbird Restaurant, a quaint diner serving hearty comfort food and delectable cream pies. The classic pies include hot apple, coconut cream, chocolate cream, and the famed Thunderberry pie, a fruity treat filled with blended raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Treat yourself to a slice of their creamy coconut cream pie or old-fashioned banana cream pie for a taste of nostalgia. You can stop at the restaurant for a plateful of comfort food and finish with a stellar wedge of Ho-Made pie, which got its risqué name after Jack Morrison, the restaurant founder in 1931, ran out of space on the sign and shortened “Homemade” to “Ho-Made.”
Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant – Bryce Canyon:
A family-owned establishment near Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its rustic charm and delicious pies. Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant is where you can indulge in a slice of their classic fruit pies, such as cherry or apple, and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding red rock landscape. These flavors are unique: Bryce Canyon Banana Blueberry with fruit layers on a graham cracker crust, Tart Boysenberry topped with a scoop of vanilla, and Sour Cream Raisin Pie, a local double-crust favorite filled with plump raisins and sour cream custard.
Bumbleberry Bakery – Springdale:
Centrally located in Springdale, Bumbleberry Inn is at a prime location when visiting Zion National Park. They are one mile from the park entrance, have a shuttle stop on the property, and are near many restaurants, gift shops, and galleries. The Bumbleberry Bakery offers a wide selection of coffee, drinks, and baked goods but is primarily known for its perfect location and Bumbleberry Pie. Their pies are made from scratch and baked fresh daily, using the same recipe from over 50 years ago. Other treats include cinnamon rolls, turnovers, fudge, edible cookie dough, and 16 flavors of ice cream.
What is a Bumbleberry? According to Grandpa, bumbleberries grow on giggle bushes, so named because once the berry is plump, juicy, and ripened to perfection, it will let out one sweet giggle. Legend has it that if someone ate one of these berries at the moment it ripens, they would spend the rest of their life giggling.
Utah’s sweet scene becomes even more prosperous and more diverse. Whether craving a classic fruit pie, a creamy delight, or a seasonal specialty, these bakeries and restaurants offer something for every pie lover to enjoy on Pi Day and beyond. So grab a fork and dig into a slice of your favorite pie at one of these local establishments! After all, what better way to honor the mathematical constant π than by indulging in a delicious slice of pie?