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American Pieways reviews

YOUR GUIDES TO GREAT PIE




John Forsyth is a book author and world traveler with discriminating tastes and a storyteller's heart. He and his wife, Jennifer, are traipsing along America's backroads and "pieways" in search of good desserts by the slice and sweet stories. You can find all of their reviews linked from the home page.  Here's to good eating and good reading.
"There are lots of jokes involving pies; they’re funnier than other foods, somehow."
-- The New York Times, June 15, 2009


OUR RATINGS





One slice: You’re in danger of suffering pie withdrawal, and no alternatives in sight.



Two slices: You used to think this was good pie, before American Pieways set you straight.




Three slices: If pies came out of your oven this tasty, you’d start a bakery.




Four slices: Buy another slice to go, ’cause this’ll still be good in the morning.



Five slices: Whoa! Redraw that vacation itinerary to include this pie.





Six slices: Member of the Holy Church of the Flaky Crust.

CONTACTS

 

Crane's Pie Pantry, Fennville, MI

6054 124th Ave. (M-89)
(269) 561-2297

www.cranespiepantry.com/

G U E S T   R E V I E W
 
By Emily Younger
 
Summer in Michigan brings to mind fruit pies. A few miles from the popular summer resort of Saugatuck lies the Township of Fennville with its famous pie emporium, Crane’s Pie Pantry. 
     After passing the Fenn Valley Winery, we approached Crane’s, with its barnlike façade facing the road and entrance from the backside parking lot.  Even before we entered the restaurant, we were exposed to the Cracker Barrel décor.  Not a single inch of wall or floor space remains vacant, but rather is covered with memorabilia from the ’50s and before. Even the ladies restroom sports an antique ironing board for a changing table! 
     Our meals were tasty. We ordered corn/chicken chowder with homemade apple butter bread for our lunch and neither disappointed us.
Crane’s is surrounded by orchards that supply the fresh fruit for their homemade pies. H.B. Crane purchased the Hutchins farm in 1916 because it provided prime conditions for fruit orchards. Apple, cherry, blueberry, red raspberry, peach and rhubarb are the pie choices, as
well as corresponding no-sugar versions. A fruit shortage is rarely a problem in Michigan. In addition, the dessert list includes strudels and crisps with the same fruits and an apple walnut cake. Crane’s also makes apple cider and a variety of jams.
     When we got to the pie pickin’, we chose slices of blueberry and peach. The crusts were flaky, and the berries/peaches were not overcooked or over-sweetened. Both slices boasted an abundance of fruit and were satisfying, if not the best we’ve ever eaten. We thought the peach was the better of the two. Crane’s ships its pies and other treats.
     We waddled out of Crane’s and back up the road to the winery.
 
Another Crane’s Pie Pantry location:
 
11 E. 8th St.
Holland, MI
(616) 796-CITY

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