Pie in the Sky
By Bei Hu
Contributing Writer
(From October 23, 2008)
There is a saying that you’ll get pie in the sky when you die. Although the phrase is an idiom for an empty wish or lofty promise, the founders of Mission Pie have undertaken the task of making heavenly pies a reality.
They begin by setting a warm and inviting ambience: the walls are painted with a sunny color palette and the display of pies is made to be open and appealing. The seating consists of small wooden tables that could feel cramped or extra cozy depending on your company.
Frozen fruit with artificially-flavored glaze and soggy crust are banned substances in this establishment that offers homemade pies filled with fresh, seasonal fruits from local farms and a rustic pie crust that refuses to surrender to the moist fruit it beds. It is refreshing to finally taste a pie where the fruit serves as the main flavor enhanced by sugar and spices rather than eating a sweet pie with a hint of fruit. The pie crust is unique in being rustic, thin and flaky. Although it works as a good complement to the subtly sweet filling, I personally prefer pie crust to be more buttery. The whipped cream is light, airy and served generously upon request on every slice of pie ordered.
My personal favorite is the banana cream with specks of vanilla bean in the custard and real pieces of banana at the bottom. It is light and bursting with flavor without being overpowering – the kind of dessert that makes you want to grab the plate and lick it clean but social inhibition prevents you from looking like a manic glutton.
A close second is the walnut pie which is much like a pecan pie with just the right amount of sweetness. The apple pie crumbles and melts in your mouth – a taste of middle America in the heart of the Mission district—the only thing lacking was homemade vanilla ice-cream. The pear raspberry and plum frangipane were also delicious in the surprising pairing of pomaceous fruit with berry and plums with almond filling.
The choices are limited but the ingredients are always fresh. Although this cafe is mostly self serve (you get your own silverware, water and table), the staff are attentive in clearing your plates after all the pie has been greedily devoured. Coffee is also available for ordering.
The prices are a bit steep so it’s probably best not to go on an empty stomach. A rather small slice of pie is $3.50 plus tax; the individual tartlets are $4.50 to $7. Only cash or check is accepted. Parking is sometimes difficult to find depending on the time of day.
If you ever pass by the sign “EAT PIE,” you’ve arrived at one of the best pie shops in San Francisco. In the days when everything and everyone seem to have gone mad, these may be some of the only words that make any sense.
Mission Pie
2901 Mission St.
(415) 282-1500
www.missionpie.com
Bei Hu is a second-year medical student.