Stopped by yesterday and was blown away by their grapefruit/malort custard pie. Tart w/slight bitter overtones. Winner.

I've been lucky enough to stop by the outpost in Evanston a few times recently. My SO and I have tried the smores pie, the fig and pear pie, the apple sour cherry pie and the ginger custard. Every time I get a different slice -- it's a revelation. I swear this place can do no wrong in the pie world. I especially loved the fig and pear pie -- it was dreamy. It was my favorite piece until I was introduced to the apple/sour cherry pie -- which was like two magical delicious pies combined and had a very lovely baby. And then THAT was my favorite pie -- but then -- dear reader -- I had the ginger custard. And reader -- I married that pie. So stunningly delicious and creamy and gingery. Ah....I did not taste the smores pie but my SO said it was incredible. We are very lucky to have Hoosier Mama in our neck of the woods. And the crust -- so flaky and tasty. I love having pie where I want to eat all the crust -- so often I leave crust behind. There is no crust left behind on a Hoosier Mama pie, people. None!

I think that everyone who reads this site recognizes the greatness of the pie at Hoosier Mama and plenty has already been said. Nothing profound for me to add other than to note that I think this is the absolute best time of the year to go - berries and stone fruits abound - so a bump seemed appropriate. Here was my haul from the Evanston location today:

Hoosier Mama may have had the best item at the recent Green City Market BBQ. It was a do it yourself pie. First, you selected a crust -- shortbread, butter or graham cracker. They had them pre-made in small tins. Then you selected a filling from several berry options and sorrel. They put a scoop of the filling in the shell. Then you selected toppings which include fruits and several crumbles. It was both fun and made for a really good mini-pie.

Jonah wrote:Hoosier Mama may have had the best item at the recent Green City Market BBQ. It was a do it yourself pie.

+1!

Jonah wrote:Hoosier Mama may have had the best item at the recent Green City Market BBQ. It was a do it yourself pie.

stevez wrote:+1!

+2 for Hoosier Mama, though the plus size blackberry macaron with raspberry ice cream filling from One Off Hospitality was a close second.

Today is the first day this year that I've seen peach pie on offer. As science has proven that peach pie is the best of all pies, this is indeed a time to rejoice.

Its Pie o'clock


Pie, count me a Fan!

A couple of days ago, I had a sour cherry/plum pie with a streusel top that was among the best of the HMPC pies I've tried.

Also, I'm not sure if it's been reported upthread, but the Chicago Ave location now has a back patio that is pretty magical. You can't hear a whit of traffic because it is totally secluded among tall neighboring buildings. It's tranquil, there are repurposed pie plates turned into water features, and - the best part - you can buy great pie inside. Highly recommended.

gastro gnome wrote:Also, I'm not sure if it's been reported upthread, but the Chicago Ave location now has a back patio that is pretty magical.

Both locations are on Chicago Ave — one on the city of Chicago's Chicago Ave, the other on Evanston's Chicago Ave.

nr706 wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:Also, I'm not sure if it's been reported upthread, but the Chicago Ave location now has a back patio that is pretty magical.

Both locations are on Chicago Ave — one on the city of Chicago's Chicago Ave, the other on Evanston's Chicago Ave.

Good point. I'm talking about the Chicago Ave location that is also IN Chicago.

gastro gnome wrote:Good point. I'm talking about the Chicago Ave location that is also IN Chicago.

Hoosier Mama on Chicago Ave in Evanston also has an outdoor patio bordered by Kedzie just to the north. Coincidentally also a street in Chicago, IL.

I have only been at the Evanston location, and while I very much enjoy the apple pie, I have found all the others I have tried to be too sweet.

FYI The reason why, unlike other border suburbs, Evanston does not share street names with Chicago is that it was incorporated long before Chicago's border was any where near that far north.

scottsol wrote:FYI The reason why, unlike other border suburbs, Evanston does not share street names with Chicago is that it was incorporated long before Chicago's border was any where near that far north.

Thanks for that info, I never knew that.

Your homework assignment is to figure out why Skokie, Morton Grove and eastern Niles closely adhere to the Evanston names for east-west streets but begin to diverge starting with the west edge of Niles.

scottsol wrote:Your homework assignment is to figure out why Skokie, Morton Grove and eastern Niles closely adhere to the Evanston names for east-west streets but begin to diverge starting with the west edge of Niles.

Maine/Niles Township border is the common sense reason, but lacks any interesting historical background or nuance. The point at which the naming changes tracks roughly on a NW-SE angle along Milwaukee Ave.

bweiny wrote:

scottsol wrote:Your homework assignment is to figure out why Skokie, Morton Grove and eastern Niles closely adhere to the Evanston names for east-west streets but begin to diverge starting with the west edge of Niles.

Maine/Niles Township border is the common sense reason, but lacks any interesting historical background or nuance. The point at which the naming changes tracks roughly on a NW-SE angle along Milwaukee Ave.

Unfortunately, the township divide is at Harlem, east of Milwaukee; and side streets Harrison, Emerson, Davis and Crain extend will past Greenwood.

scottsol wrote:

bweiny wrote:

scottsol wrote:Your homework assignment is to figure out why Skokie, Morton Grove and eastern Niles closely adhere to the Evanston names for east-west streets but begin to diverge starting with the west edge of Niles.

Maine/Niles Township border is the common sense reason, but lacks any interesting historical background or nuance. The point at which the naming changes tracks roughly on a NW-SE angle along Milwaukee Ave.

Unfortunately, the township divide is at Harlem, east of Milwaukee; and side streets Harrison, Emerson, Davis and Crain extend will past Greenwood.

Hi everyone,

As fascinating as this digression is, let's keep the thread on topic as a courtesy to those coming here to get information about Hoosier Mama.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

Evanston location is closed for at least two weeks.

Evanston Hoosier Mama Pie Company now has “Take and Bake” on a variety of items and an “Isolation General Store” for several more basic grocery items. Pickup is Tuesday and Saturday from 12:00 to 4:00.

B2B wrote:Evanston Hoosier Mama Pie Company now has “Take and Bake” on a variety of items and an “Isolation General Store” for several more basic grocery items. Pickup is Tuesday and Saturday from 12:00 to 4:00.

Both locations have it and the pickup days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Orders have to be pre-paid and pickup is contactless. You tell them the day and time you're picking up when you order, call with your order number when you're there, and they'll bring your order to a table outside. At least those are the instructions for Chicago. Presumably Evanston does something similar.

Order from Chicago here
Order from Evanston here