Where's a great place in Portland to get a pie? I'm looking for either a graham cracker crust or a butter cookie type crust. New York style cheesecake must have a graham cracker crust while I'm really searching for a mince meat pie (no meat, just dried fruit) with a butter cookie crust. Nobody in my family really wants or likes pie so pumpkin pie is out. I'm the only one that wants a pie, and I really want a good mince meat pie. So, the pie is all for me.
Helen Bernhard Bakery was established in 1924, beginning, as many bakeries did in those early days, by baking cakes for neighbors and friends. At the time, the Bernhard family lived in the house next to the present shop. Ben Bernhard’s father was a minister at Grace Lutheran Church and his mother, Helen, created the cake business as a hobby and an addition to the family’s income. Her earliest recipe book, dated September 1923, was written in heavy pencil, its smudges and rewrites showing much trial and error. As business grew, additions were made to the back and side of the old house to accommodate baking and sales demands. Eventually, the family moved one street away and their former home became devoted to the bakery. In 1939, the present bakery building was erected under the supervision and planning of Ben and his mother. Mrs. Bernhard died in 1968, at 86 years old, but had long since sold her business to Ben. Many years later, David, a third generation Bernhard, purchased the bakery and succeeded in keeping the home bakery aspect alive in a busy retail bakery In 1988, David Bernhard sold the bakery to Richard and Mary Laufer, local bakery owners, who have devoted their lives to family and baking. Most recently, the bakery was purchased by their son-in- law and daughter, Mike and Kellie Snaadt. They are inspired by the rich history and loving memories the bakery provides the community. The bakery has seen many changes in it’s 90 years of existence, but amid all those changes, the home bakery feeling still remains.
Get a cookbook and make a pie. Suggest Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum or America's test kitchen Perfect Pie.
I would love to do that but I can't stand and if I sit and do the work, my wife has to bring me every thing I need as well as do all the clean-up so she says just buy it. There you have it, the boss has given me orders on what to do.
I’ve mentioned Loretta Jean’s to you a couple of times. The owner does her grandmother’s recipes from Georgia. Best pie crust ever. It’s on 34th and Division. Wide variety of pies and stuff. worth a visit. And better yet, Zupan’s is now carrying them and you can order through them for Thanksgiving if you get your butt in gear. We ordered our pumpkin pies from them this year. You will not find a better pie in the PDX area than Loretta Jean’s.
1. My wife and I went there. We ate and didn't really care for the food. They had a small variety of pies so we went with what looked like the best, lemon meringue, forced down one slice and had to toss the rest; 2. They don't carry a mince meat pie.
I certainly didn’t mention it as a place to dine out at exactly. It’s all about the pie. And are you sure you went to Lauretta Jeans??? They ALWAYS have at least 10 different kinds of pies (and usually more) to choose from, along with an assortment of other baked goods. If you find a better pie in town, please, please, please (please???) send me the info. I don’t believe such a place exists.....