Sweet of the Week: Raspberry Pretzel Pie at Local Foods

Whodathunk that a market would be home to one of the finest and most original slices of pie in Chicago? Newly opened Midwestern Mecca Local Foods operates as a veritable indoor farmers' market in its Bucktown warehouse facility, showcasing anything and everything locally sourced, from dairy and vegetables to grains, fruits, and meats at The Butcher & Larder, which moved from its original Noble Square location to join forces with Local Foods. There's also a cute lunch counter in the market called Stock, which harkens to Americana diners with its polished white countertop and its blue plate specials. After a recent lunch at Stock, which showcases meaty wares from the adjoining Butcher & Larder, it became apparent that dessert was paramount. Especially when there's a pie as good as the minty raspberry pretzel pie. 

 

Local Foods
Raspberry pretzel pie at Local Foods



One of the friendly staffers here told me I would be kicking myself if I didn't order this pie. Turns out he was very right. This wasn't like any pie I've had before. Unlike cream pies, fruit pies, and chess pies, this one was a cream cheese-infused bavarian layered over a pretzel crust with a lustrous layer of raspberry on top. The dessert sported a chilled mousse-like texture, nice and light with a bit of tang from the cream cheese shining through. Crushed pretzels formed the foundation, offsetting the sweet accoutrements with some crunchy, salty undertones. The capper is the raspberry glaze, a jelly-like layer of tart berries bursting with vivid flavor and color. It's a nice, apt exclamation point to punctuate a meal at a locally minded market such as this. 

- Matt Kirouac

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