Day Trips

Photo by Gerald E. McLeod

The Flying Saucer Pie Co. does one thing and does it very well. The Houston pie factory does that one thing in 15 different flavors.

Some people are cake people, and some people are pie people. You know who you are. For the rest of you, it's OK to be an omnidessertivore.

To pie people, pies are so much more than just a dessert. Pies are loaded with plenty of healthy-sounding stuff. The average blueberry pie must be loaded with vitamins, right? What better way to eat healthy fruits than in a pie? Never mind all the sugar and butter that goes with the 4 cups of fruit. Sure, cake people have carrot cake and zucchini bread, but pie people have the nutrient-rich sweet potato and pumpkin pies.

Personally, I think chocolate, lemon, and key lime pies fall more in the pudding category. Now, if you add nuts and dark chocolate, voilà, you have a healthy snack. A handful of pecans is loaded with natural antioxidants, making a slice of pecan pie nearly a health food.

Flying Saucer Pie Co. isn't a doughnut shop with a pie sideline. The bakery makes only pies – wonderful, heavy-as-a-load-of-bricks, fresh pies.

One guy in line at the pie company counter had come by to grab dessert to accompany his evening meal. He said he usually gets a regular fruit pie, but tonight he felt like strawberry cream pie. It must be nice to have a neighborhood pie factory.

On my last visit, four women were holding up the line as they fussed over the pies as if they were selecting expensive jewelry. They had driven across Houston to get a dozen pies for an upcoming party. Wow, a party with four grocery bags of pies. They declined my request for an invitation.

When you walk into Flying Saucer Pie Co., there are stacks of pecan pies in shiny metal racks begging to be taken to a good home. I have to admit: I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a display case full of pies to admire. You make your choice from a sign hanging over the cash register.

It's best to get to the counter early in the day, because many of the popular flavors sell out. Even with only 10 varieties left, it can be a hard decision. How bad would it be if you got there just before closing time and all they had left was apple pie?

The Flying Saucer Pie Co. is located at 436 W. Crosstimbers, northwest of downtown Houston, outside of Loop 610 between U.S. 290 and I-45. The out-of-this-world pies are available from 7am to 7pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The company doesn't do special orders or ship its pies, but if you call the pie company at 713/694-1141, you can find out what is available.

969th in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips" 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.