Crossing class and color lines, and spanning the nation (Montana has its huckleberry, Pennsylvania its shoofly, and Mississippi its sweet potat... read full description
reviews
Feb 29, 2008
Bethany
rated it: 
A trip through the small side roads of the US in search of pie, pie makers, pie stories, pie recipes and pie bowls.
Not for everyone, this book rambles and doubles back on itself, but it is a lovely experience for a pie lover.
Now I need to get my hands in the dough!
I do need to add, two people have asked to borrow the book from me and I am feeling reluctant to part with the book. I also wrote my name in the cover. These two things have made me change my ratin More...
Not for everyone, this book rambles and doubles back on itself, but it is a lovely experience for a pie lover.
Now I need to get my hands in the dough!
I do need to add, two people have asked to borrow the book from me and I am feeling reluctant to part with the book. I also wrote my name in the cover. These two things have made me change my ratin More...
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Jun 04, 2010
Michelle
rated it: 
This is a story of pie along American backroads, by a food writer who was moving from West to East coast and wanted to make her road trip more interesting. It tells stories of small towns, their pies, and the bakers who make them (usually elderly women). She wonders if the art of pie-making is dying out because of our inability to slow down, and our unwillingness to learn from the past (i.e., our grandmothers).
Because Le Draoulec is already a food critic and author, she has no pr More...
Because Le Draoulec is already a food critic and author, she has no pr More...
Aug 06, 2009
Molly
rated it:
pg 317: "Then, out of the blue, Nicole said: 'I don't think I would have ever ended up in an all-black neighborhood on the outskirts of Atlanta, if we hadn't been looking for pie.' And, although our first couple of days together on the road had been trying, I was glad she was beginning to see the point."
While reading this travelogue, I'd wanted something like Cookoff, which gave detailed character development and a large event to accompany the food celebration--be it corn More...
While reading this travelogue, I'd wanted something like Cookoff, which gave detailed character development and a large event to accompany the food celebration--be it corn More...
Jan 28, 2011
Peggy
rated it:
Although I read this book years ago, loaned it to a friend and have not seen it since, I wanted to add this book to my list of favorites!
This is a marvelous book, a book to use as a guide to life!
The author, a west coast journalist, moving east for a new job, decides to use her travel time to explore America by following word of mouth (no pun intended) recommendations of where to find a great piece of pie.
So, following her taste buds so to speak, she makes her way across the co More...
This is a marvelous book, a book to use as a guide to life!
The author, a west coast journalist, moving east for a new job, decides to use her travel time to explore America by following word of mouth (no pun intended) recommendations of where to find a great piece of pie.
So, following her taste buds so to speak, she makes her way across the co More...
Sep 05, 2010
Jan
rated it:
Driving her way across the U.S. from San Francisco to New York City to accept a job, the author decided to make a "theme" out of her trip and chose pie. From that one decision arose this delightful book about the American connection to this delicious dessert. In the end, Le Draoulec traveled much of the country and her simple question of "Where can I find a good piece of pie around here?" lead her to lots of interesting places and people (and lots of yummy pie).
I More...
I More...
Jun 08, 2011
Rachel
rated it: 
Since I take the time to bake bread from scratch, I am now determined to perfect pie. I've made it several times before with mixed success. Since Mom's crust is perfect, that's my goal.
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. Its cross between travelogue and food book was alot of fun. The travelers themselves made the stories fun. The anecdotes shared along the way were endearing. I'm appalled that they were led astray about CT pie and surprised that they didn't venture through New More...
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. Its cross between travelogue and food book was alot of fun. The travelers themselves made the stories fun. The anecdotes shared along the way were endearing. I'm appalled that they were led astray about CT pie and surprised that they didn't venture through New More...
Dec 16, 2007
Becky
rated it:
This book is great! It makes me want to road trip and bake pie. At the same time.
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Apr 17, 2011
Ashland Mystery
rated it:
The quintessential road trip across America, this one dedicated to PIE - berry, icebox, custard and cream. Kind of like Thelma and Louise but not as crazy. Kind of like Miles and Jake, but not as disaffected. Nice insights into vanishing America, the art and craft of pie disappearing with the death of the diner, the loss of the last generation but hope in odd places like Pie Town New Mexico, Georgia and Michigan. The aimless trip through upstate New York and New England, when Pascale and boyfrie
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Mar 10, 2009
Dwhren
rated it:
The author regales us with her cross country drive from California to New York stopping in small towns and big cities along the way looking for pie. She repeats the trip the following summer following a southern route and also has a few side trips throughout the year in-between. It's a kind of whimsical book with her talking to people in small-town America about pie and how it relates to their lives. The book is also interspersed with recipes for pie she picks up along her journeys. It makes
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Apr 26, 2008
Holly
rated it:
The book charts several cross-country treks by a food journalist questing for “pies with character and characters who love pie” in a old Volvo station wagon named Betty Blue with pie vanity plates and actual wooden rolling pins attached to the front grille and the rear handle. I loved it, not least because it’s as much about great road trips as it is about dessert, and I highly recommend reading it to anyone who enjoys either.
Admittedly, Le Draoulec hits a lot of the same notes over More...
Admittedly, Le Draoulec hits a lot of the same notes over More...
Oct 12, 2010
Mary
rated it:
Pie love...
If you have pie love, you'll absolutely devour this book...figuratively, of course!
I was thrilled to find not only authentic American portraits of pie bakers and eaters, but also RECIPES! And wonderful quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
Travel with Pasquale and her friend (friends, later in the book) through the States, sampling pies and visiting with those who baked them and those who love them.
I checked it out of the library, but I More...
If you have pie love, you'll absolutely devour this book...figuratively, of course!
I was thrilled to find not only authentic American portraits of pie bakers and eaters, but also RECIPES! And wonderful quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
Travel with Pasquale and her friend (friends, later in the book) through the States, sampling pies and visiting with those who baked them and those who love them.
I checked it out of the library, but I More...
Aug 21, 2010
Lize
rated it:
Not the gross out comedy, but rather an idea that I wished I'd come up with. Le Draoulec is journalist who makes several cross-country trips through small town America, sampling and writing about pie. (Stops include Door County and Russellville, Arkansas!) I’m too shy to go up to people like she does, but I wish I'd been invited along for the ride (to take photos, which the book desperately needs).
Mar 22, 2008
Elaine
rated it:
This is a really cute book, given to me as a gift. If you like road trips, can hack doing them in the US and encountering the people and places you are bound to encounter, and -- most of all -- if you like pie, you will like this book.
The book is all about a journalist's quest across the US to find 'good ole' american pie wherever she (and her friends) go. The stories she records are fun, give a snapshot of the country (not in the Cheap Motels & a Hotplate kind of way, but...), a More...
The book is all about a journalist's quest across the US to find 'good ole' american pie wherever she (and her friends) go. The stories she records are fun, give a snapshot of the country (not in the Cheap Motels & a Hotplate kind of way, but...), a More...
Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
Le Draoulec and friends take off on an American road trip in search of pie. Along the way, they sample everything from Bonnie Bale’s Blink-of-an-Eye Butterscotch Pie to Funeral Pie in Amish Pennsylvania to Mildred Snook’s Sour Cream Raisin Pie. The ladies have as much fun talking to people along the road as they do eating pie.
Dec 16, 2009
Anie
rated it:
A very cute story. A little stereotypical (single lady finds herself on themed roadtrip and then settles down for hubby and teh babiez!), but with a light-hearted and amusing touch. I am all for pie, and really, the descriptions of the various people met along the way (not to mention the recipes) are quite fun.
Jan 31, 2010
Carrie
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I would usually rather have a big slice of moist chocolate cake than a slice of pie, whatever the variety. But this book makes you crave pie, makes you (foolishly?) think that even you could make a crust from scratch yourself, and provides dozens of recipes for regionally famous pies (raspberry pear, turtle pie, butterscotch pie, rhubarb custard, etc. etc.) along with a pretty good travel narrative.
I don't, however, recommend reading it during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It ma More...
I don't, however, recommend reading it during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It ma More...
Sep 06, 2011
Lori
rated it:
Fun easy read, a road trip thru American looking for pie with recipes included.
Dec 20, 2008
John
rated it:
Food and travel - two of my favorite subjects in one!
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May 21, 2007
Msietsma
rated it:
A jouranlist and a succession of friends travel America's backroads in search of the perfect pie, learning along the way that pie is more than a dessert, and that regional pie preferences reflect the characters of the country.
As a foreigner living in America, this was a wonderful slice of culture - with bonus pie recipes! An American friend lent it to me when I brought home-made cherry pie to a pot-luck dinner, but I'll be buying my own copy when I'm next near a bookshop.
As a foreigner living in America, this was a wonderful slice of culture - with bonus pie recipes! An American friend lent it to me when I brought home-made cherry pie to a pot-luck dinner, but I'll be buying my own copy when I'm next near a bookshop.
Apr 21, 2011
Christina
rated it:
What could be more fun than a road trip in search of great pie? The author meets lots of memorable people and visits many great American places, eating great pie along the way. The book includes recipes.
Oct 09, 2007
Bridget
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Loved, loved, loved this book! It's the true story of a journalist who is moving, and rather than fly coast-to-coast she decides to drive it via backroads with her girlfriend. The cool part: each town they stop in, they ask where you can find a great slice of pie. Along the way they meet a wide variety of people, eat some great (and not great) pie, and overall have what I think sounds like the perfect roadtrip.
Sep 12, 2011
Toni
rated it:
What a wonderful idea, to insert a theme into a road trip, in this case the search for homemade pie across America. This slightly quirky and delightful book has me looking for an excuse to make a pie - soon!
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Dec 20, 2007
Catherine
rated it:
A girls' road trip with the search for good pie thrown in. I enjoyed the first portion of the book but as the trip continued it became a bit boring. The author's rudeness was a bit annoying, i.e., inviting herself into peoples' homes and asking pie makers and shopkeepers to open for her after they were closed. The book includes lots of recipes.
