A fried pie is like fried chicken, or like fried anything, really, in that you have to ask yourself: “Do I really deserve this indulgence?” Or perhaps, “When might I deserve this?” That’s why we have fried chicken on birthdays, donuts after the dentist and season passes to the State Fair of Texas.
So when I heard that the new Bakers Ribs in Deep Ellum features a The Origianl Fried Pie Shop inside, with both sweet and savory hand pies, I had to ask myself, “What could you do to deserve an all fried-pie meal? A good answer might be, “finish a triathlon” or “be nice to everyone.” But those goals are a little out of my reach right now, and dang it, I wanted that pie.
So I justified it by feeling sorry for myself. It was 5:30 p.m., and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Th intersection of Hall and Main was only a few blocks out of my way. Big Tex was dead! There was traffic anyway. Pie, dammit! Pie of meat.
Since I was there between lunch and dinner, they had to make my pies to order, one pulled pork and one “comfort,” which is polish sausage and potatoes “in a light cheese sauce.” I wanted to order a chocolate fried pie too, but I admit, I was ashamed to order three fried pies for myself, and I sort of hoped their might be a different cashier by the time I finished my all-pie entree.
Anyway, I started with the comfort one. The crust is hot and crispy on the outside and tender inside. It might’ve been potatoes “in a light cheese sauce,” because the sausage is barely there. The pulled pork is basically pork in a mild barbecue sauce. I was hoping for a brisket or pork pie that does not contain bbq sauce, but among the many savory pie options, that is not one.
Next time I am rationalizing my bad mood/over hunger, I would like to try the Tex-Mex, which has “very spicy” refried beans, beef and cheddar. And that’s all I will order because a fried pie also is like a shot of tequila. One is more than enough for anybody.
The savory pies cost $3.75 each. Fruit pies cost $2.95, and cream pies are $3.49.
