21 Nov 16th–Nov 22Nd, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Easy as Pie Take one item off your Thanksgiving to-do list and preorder your pie for Turkey Day. BY ALLISON YOUNG P ie is a great equalizer that can unite people across the aisle and the dinner table — and its peak season is upon us. These local restaurants and bakeries make ordering Thanksgiving pies, well, as easy as pie. Whether you’re hoping for pumpkin, pecan, or something a little unexpected (did someone say ice cream pie?), put in orders for these before they piece out. One More Bite Bakery Pick up at Uptown Farmers Market: 5757 N. Central Ave. Desert Monks Brewery: 1094 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert Kevin Schappert, owner of One More Bite Bakery, is a one-man pie show. Last year he made over 800 Thanksgiving pies, all hand-rolled and chock full of made-from- scratch ingredients, and this year is no different. Apple crumble comes with four varieties of hand-peeled apples tossed overnight in cinnamon and sugar, banana cream is made using homemade vanilla pudding, pumpkin is packed with fresh- roasted squash from Mesa’s Vertuccio Farms and Pumpkin Supreme adds a layer of pumpkin cheesecake. Order full-size pies or go with a sampler of five mini pies, just don’t forget the homemade whipped cream. Pre-order at onemorebitebakeryg- ilbert.com by Nov. 17. Lux Coffee 4402 N. Central Ave. 16220 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale If you’ve ever been to Lux leading up to Thanksgiving, you’ve seen the stacks upon stacks of Thanksgiving pies for pickup. That’s because these sought-after slices slung by Katie Callahan and her team don’t lack in fillings or technique. They use organic ingredients and an all-butter pie hand-rolled crust made using European butter for more flake and flavor. And if you’ve had one, the “baked with love” part goes without saying. To pre-order, call or text 602-361-8866 or message Lux on Instagram by Nov. 21. Kiss The Cook Restaurant 4915 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale Kiss The Cook in the northwest Valley may be most well known for its bacon, sausage and home fries, but pie reigns supreme here as well. Owner and head pie maker Nancy Hagadorn can turn out dozens in a day and she’s happy to fill custom orders, so don’t hesitate to ask for more cinnamon in your apple pie or no eggs in your pumpkin. Yes, she uses butter in the crust, but that’s the only secret you’re getting. To pre-order, call 623-939-4663 by Nov. 21. Sweet Republic Multiple Locations Forget ice cream on the side, Sweet Republic is serving ice cream inside pies. Made with the classics in mind, these ice cream dreams include a honey waffle crust filled to the brim with ice cream flavors sporting bold additions. Think apples roasted in butter and brown sugar, pumpkin slow-cooked with a six-spice blend and maple-infused ice cream with toasted Arizona pecans. And yes, they still totally have that Thanksgiving taste. Pre-order at sweetrepublic.com/pies by Nov. 19. SugarJam The Southern Kitchen 15111 Hayden Road, Scottsdale Dana Dumas, founder of SugarJam, bakes history and family tradition into her Southern-inspired pies. Standouts include her sweet potato, a flavorful slice with an impossibly flaky crust inspired by her Grandma Thelma’s recipe, and, of course, apple, Dumas’ personal fave. “I just love the flavor of cinnamon and sugar wrapped around tender apples – so delish!” Dumas says. She always uses natural brown sugar and beet sugar, plus local and organic eggs. Pre-order at sjsouthernkitchen.com by Nov. 17. Mamma Toledo’s The Pie Hole 15414 N. Seventh St. Tonya Saidi is the name, face and force behind Mamma Toledo’s. The self-taught baker whipped up her first pie in 1995, a rich raspberry creation, and she’s been filling pie holes ever since. She’s most known for her brown sugar peach, an award-winning stunner that includes peaches slow-cooked in vanilla and brown sugar and a brown butter sugar crumble topper, but there’s no wrong choice. Pre-order at mamma-toledos.square.site until Nov. 17 or until online orders sell out. Morning Squeeze Multiple locations Breakfast and lunch hot spot Morning Squeeze not only has your post-dinner pies covered, but they’re also offering Above: One More Bite’s Pumpkin Supreme adds pumpkin cheesecake to the party. Right: Pie preorders are open at bakeries around the Valley including at SugarJam. (Photos by One More Bite Pie and SugarJam The Southern Kitchen) >> p 23 ▼ Chow
