On Wednesday, our neighbors called to see if we wanted to meet them for lunch the next day at the Southern Maine Community College Campus for lunch. Yada yada yada, the school has a culinary program and offers luncheons {it varies between buffets and 4 course meals}. The luncheons are offered during the academic year and are open to the public {for only $15 a person} so the culinary arts students can practice running a full-service restaurant.
We said yes!
The school is in South Portland and not having spent any time in South Portland yet, I quickly scoped out the area online before we left to see if there was anywhere else I wanted to stop since we’d be in the area. Two Fats Cats Bakery popped up on my screen and since it was just a 2 miles from the college, I made the HH take me there before we got to the luncheon to check it out.
Some people love coffee, some people love wine and then there are nutters like me LIVE FOR TEA AND PIE. And I have no problem paying bookoo bucks for a real good quality made from scratch pie {or other delicious pastry for that matter}. But it has to be a real pie, with a real filling.
There is a HUGE difference between a pie from a grocery store that was made with fruity goo from a 5 gallon bucket and one that was made from scratch. You just can’t beat it.
What a bunch of beauties!!!
The New England Bog pie looked interesting….
The Two Fats Cats Bakery was super cute, and had two community tables {something you see a lot of up here in Maine} for those who wanted to dine in.
And a fun coffee and tea station with handmade mugs.
But since we were supposed to be meeting our neighbors for lunch in 15 minutes, we bought the pie and ran. Or rather, I paid for the pie and ran while the HH held the door open for me with a funny look on his face.
Once outside…
HH: How much did you just pay for that pie?
Mavis: Doesn’t it look good? Here, hold the box open so I can take a picture.
HH: Did I hear her say $27? Did you just pay $27 for that pie?
Mavis: IT’S A REAL PIE!!!
HH: That’s insane.
Mavis: But it’s a REAL PIE… it was made from scratch. And there were no price tags and I wasn’t going to ask how much it was. Do you know how hard it is to find a bakery that sells real pies?
And then he said a few choice words while I went on telling him about how Martha Stewart, back before she was Martha Stewart went to a local farmer’s market to sell her apple pies and how she put a $5 price tag on the pies and nobody wanted them. But when she went back a week later with a $20 price tag on her pie, she sold out.
And then I went on to say that a real, non chain bakery couldn’t stay in business if they only charged $10 for pies and if he didn’t want to eat any of my 8 slices of pie that was fine by me.
But he didn’t care.
And I didn’t care that he couldn’t appreciate a $27 pie because after 25 years of being married you just learn to let things go. And didn’t he just buy some little drone that zips up in the air? WHATEVER.
********
So. Fast forward to the 12pm lunch at the culinary school.
It had snowed a good bit that morning {4″- 6″ who knows} and we enter the building and since this was our first time there and not seeing anyone in the dining room, we walk over to the kitchen prep area only to find out from the cooking instructor that campus officials decided to cancel classes and all activities at the school, lunch included at 11am that morning.
So there we were, a bunch of hungry people standing around just learning the lunch had been cancelled when all the sudden the instructor pulls out a tray of creme brulee and genoise cake from the fridge to appease all of us for making the drive to the school.
Seeing that a few people were rather disappointed they weren’t going to get the four course meal they made reservations for, she upped the ante and said she also had some blueberry pies she had to grade and if we wanted, we could have a blueberry pie to take home as well.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? A free lunch consisting of creme brulee, genoise cake and blueberry pie!? Talk about a dream come true! My lunch companions though, they weren’t as excited as I was.
2 glorious fruit pies in one day HOT DOG! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Dear Southern Maine Community College culinary arts student who made this blueberry pie: Well done. If you ever need someone to test your desserts, call me, I’m up to the task.
And well, since the weirdos in my group don’t consider fruit pie a proper lunch…. we stopped for another kind of pie instead. Pizza by Alex in Biddeford, Maine. And wowza, it was crazy good. You’ve got to try it.
3 pies in one day, not to shabby if you ask me. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and don’t forget to eat your dessert.
~Mavis
Kelly says
Two Fat Cats is one of my favorites! Try their Whoopie Pies! Amazing!
Also, have you tried Slab Pizza in Portland? Holy Moly so good!!!
Kim says
Oh Mavis, you look about 30 with your hair down. The HH will get over the $27 pie each time he remembers what a cutie he is married to!
Suzy says
It appears you are enjoying living in Maine ~ pie is the best for every meal. Stay warm and safe ~ looks like you may be getting iced in with some pie!
Pam T says
I’ve spent $27 for a pie that had five pounds of homegrown apples in it. Worth every penny. I still think of that beautiful pie! And, speaking of beautiful…..Mavis, LOVE the hair. You look amazing!
Beth Patry says
Omg! fanstastic story! I’d eat pie for lunch with you any day!!! Pie is made with fruit which we are suppose to eat right? so, why not for lunch? I’m with you on this one.
Mrs. C. says
ME, TOO!
Robin in WI says
Love that the college serves lunch to the public! I used to be a staff writer/media relations specialist at a technical college that did the same at a student-run restaurant, and had refrigerated cases stocked with food for sale that was whipped up in classes. I’m with the HH on the $27 pie, lol. A local orchard makes the best apple pie I’ve ever had from scratch and charges $14 for an 8-slice/10-inch pie. 😉
Gigi says
Same on the $27 pie. Not sure where you’re at, but I love Main Street Cafe in Bloomet and I thought theirs was getting expensive around $13. They have great deals on day-old pies.
Gigi says
Bloomer, WI I meant to say.
Carolina Cooper says
Life is short–enjoy the pies, whatever they cost. You can’t eat (or enjoy) a drone or a leg lamp! I have to agree with everyone else who commented about your hair. It looks fabulous and makes you look much younger—like early 30s, NOT the mother of people in their 20s!!!
Kari says
Your hair is adorable!!!!
Suzanne Shaw says
Awesome story! And your HAIR!!!! You look awesome – you look great all the time. But the hair down and color added; love it!
Jennifer Jo says
The pie story reminds me of the time I bought a $90 free-range turkey. John was not happy.
Suzy says
I forgot to post this …you need to try this place
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maine/tiny-bakery-honor-system-me/
Aimee says
That is less then $3.50 a slice of pie. You would pay that at a bakery or restaurant easily.
Mel says
That’s a good point. I was thinking $27 seemed steep (not unreasonable maybe, but substantial), but the price per slice seems average. Funny how that works out. We pay $28 a week for vegetable delivery, which works out to $3 per veggie, including delivery.
Tracey says
BONUS DAY! I totally would have bought the BOG pie on name alone. 🙂
Lana says
Pie is for any time of day! My Aunt was known for her real pies and often made 25 in a day. They would all be laid out in her huge laundry room and you could eat pie all day. Family members were walking around eating pie out of hand all day long when we had a family get together. Oh, the memories!
Jenn from Ma says
I just got a book at the library this week called “Dinner Pies” by Ken Haedrich. So you can eat pie for dinner ;). Apparently the author Ken is the Dean of the Pie Academy which has a website for all things pie- you may want to check it out! wwwthepieacaedemy.com
Melissa Mobley says
I always appreciate reading what you write but I am here today to tell you that your hair looks AMAZING on you! Your colorist did a great job!
Robin in SoCal says
I am intrigued by the combination of blueberry, cranberry, and chocolate. Was the chocolate in chip form, a layer of ganache on the bottom ? It looks delicious.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m not sure, I didn’t ask. We went home with the blueberry- blackberry pie. So good!
Robin in SoCal says
Checked the website and here are the deets! I might have to attempt this combo just for research’s sake
NEW ENGLAND BOG PIE (October – April) Wild Maine blueberries and cranberries, sprinkled with an oat crumble and specks of bittersweet chocolate.
Linda says
You look marvelous dear!! Love your hair!!! And the pie story is too funny! Hope you enjoy it! Have a great weekend!!!
Bren says
Our local pie shop (well 30 mins away) just upped to $40 a pie. And while I don’t have the kind of money to buy it every week, it is definitely worth every penny.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
A community college near me had a program that we loved to attend–lunch once a week of the best food on earth for $5. Then, it went up to $7 and still a bargain.
Anne Wiebe says
Mavis, why don’t you make your get together a pi day party??? Pi day is March 14 (3.14) and you could have your kitchen ready by then, right? Everybody who comes to a Pi Day party bring the pie, and everybody eats pie for the whole party! I have friends who give one every year, and they get 35 or 40 pies, and we all chow down. There’s quiche, pizza, fruit pie, Frito pie, Strawberry pie, chocolate pie,cream pie, pecan pie, fruit pie, and a million others. Doesn’t that sound like your kind of party?
Ellen Marshall says
I love that you are visiting places I know and giving them life to the readers! Two Fat Cats is also on India Street in Portland- their first bakery. I too have spent $$$on a pie from them and it was well worth it!
Alex’s pizza?? classic! A tip- you can ask to have your pizza cooked in the “old oven” – the one that makes it the way they used to be. I just learned that. Apparently they have a new oven, not to say that it isn’t great, but there is something special about the original.
Anyway..pie- sweet, savory- I’m all in!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! The peeps we were with asked for our pizzas to be made in the old oven. Too funny.
Lisa C says
Mavis,
You just make my day! I loved reading this post, especially you and your HH’s discussion on the price of the pie. Very interesting story about Martha Stewart’s pies and pricing. Have a great day!