Hoosier Mama Pie Company, West Town

Hoosier Mama Pie Company
1618 1/2 Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Date of Last Visit: Sunday, October 24th, 2010

The Victim: Me

The Damage: $8 bucks

The Background: During my little pedal around town last weekend, I found myself with a sharp desire for pie. Of the pumpkin variety. This is a bit unlike me because besides for my occasional craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream (or gelato) and the odd slice of lemon tart, I am not really a sweets person. I like to save my calories for the main event.

But I was keen to explore a new place and the end of October seemed like the perfect time for a slice of pumpkin pie (or, uh, maybe a whole pumpkin pie), so I parked my bike outside Hoosier Mama Pie Company and in I went.

Hoosier Mama is SMALL. One table in the window. That’s it. About enough comfortable space for 5 people to wait anxiously for pie. But it’s busy…the back room is packed with baking racks full of all sorts of sweet things. Good times.

My bike basket had just enough space for one small pumpkin pie.

Pies may be bigger than they appear. This was actually the small pie, maybe about six inches across. I liked the sugared leaves. That was a nice, autumn-y touch.

The Verdict: This was a very good pie. I am not complaining. But if I could fault it, I would fault it thusly: the crust was too thin on the bottom for me. It was one paperly layer of dough. I like a bit more stregth, and preferably, a graham cracker or gingersnap crust. (If you’ve got a good recipe, please pass it on!) Also, the Hoosier Mama pie itself–well, I like a bit more firmness to my pie filling. I have the same problem with lemon tart…I like my lemon tart really thick, not wobbly and jelly. All that being said, taste-wise, I couldn’t fault Hoosier Mama’s pumpkin pie. It was pretty darn excellent.