Dessert Sun Nov 15 2009

Hoosier Mama Pie Company Teams up with Ruth & Phils Ice Cream

Patient Hoosier Mama pie fans spilled out onto Chicago Avenue on an unseasonably warm mid-November Saturday afternoon. With the line extending outside and past the picture window of the cozy West Town retail space, proud owner Paula Haney asked waiting customers what inspired them to stop in on this day of all days. No common thread emerged from the varied answers that could account for the day's exceptionally brisk business. Simply, word continues to spread that Haney and her quickly growing team are crafting outstanding pie. Now there is another reason to indulge in their creations: Ruth & Phils Gourmet Ice Cream.

Starting this week, customers eating in the Hoosier Mama shop can get their slices of pie à la mode, while folks carrying out pie can bring home pints of Ruth & Phil's French-style ice cream. Alison Bower, owner of the Lincoln Square-based ice cream company, yesterday offered free samples of two flavors to the long line of pie fans: Madagascar vanilla bean and sour cream-cinnamon. Both flavors offered an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel and reserved sweetness which made them natural accompaniments to pie. Now it is almost impossible to imagine Hoosier Mama's double-crusted bourbon- and vanilla-infused pear pie without the headiness of Ruth & Phils vanilla ice cream, or the traditional apple pie minus the spicy tang of the sour cream-cinnamon.

Unfortunately, anyone hoping to bring a Hoosier Mama pie to Thanksgiving dinner and without a reservation yet is out of luck. Haney and her staff are at capacity with existing orders totaling 400 pies. The Chicago Avenue shop will be open Tuesday through Thursday of Thanksgiving week (November 24-26) for advance order pick-up only. Folks willing to get up early the day before Thanksgiving, however, may be rewarded. Hoosier Mama will be selling 60 pies at Green City Market at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The pies will go fast.

In the meantime, both pie and ice cream are readily available at the Hoosier Mama shop (1618 1/2 W. Chicago Ave.). Additional Ruth & Phils flavors will be available there after Thanksgiving.

— Sharon Bautista / Comments (0)