This story begins, as all good stories do, with a pie. A delicious, tender, flavorful, savory tomato pie. I know what you're thinking. Tomato pie? Those are not words one usually sees together, but oh my... it is out of this world fantastic! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
I had been staying in various parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio for about 6 days. It was Monday, the last day of my trip and my last meal before heading home.
Thelma, my sweet friend and host, said she knew the perfect place to get lunch. The Tomato Pie Cafe.
And what does one get at the Tomato Pie Cafe? Well tomato pie of course.
My excellent company :)
The adorable waitress in the fedora hat took our orders. "Two tomato pies please." She smiled knowingly.
A few minutes later this glorious plate was set in front of me. I took the first bite, closed my eyes and sighed.
Please forgive the picture of the half eaten pie. I was already well into eating it when I realized I really needed to document this slice of heaven. If Thelma noticed that I was making little happy moans as I ate, she was too polite to say anything ;) I don't want to embarrass myself by telling you all how fast I devoured that slice... we'll just say it didn't really have a chance to cool off.
Here's the trouble. I don't think I can be happy with just the memory of that amazing pie. I want to be able to eat it over and over, but I can't be flying to Pennsylvania every time I'm hankering for a slice of tomato pie. I have to learn how to make it. Thelma says that the recipe is a closely guarded secret and that the waitresses cannot be bribed. So the quest is on! The perfect tomato pie will be mine if it's the last thing I do. Thelma and I are putting our heads together to come up with the recipe and all the proper techniques. I will keep you all up to date on our progress (for I am sure you are dying to know).
Now, you may ask "What on earth was a California girl doing in Pennsylvania, on a Monday afternoon, eating tomato pie with two lovely girls?". Well that's another good story that begins like this...
Once upon a time, a slightly nervous woman boarded a plane, flew hundreds of miles to meet a bunch of strangers she met on the internet. But the rest of that story will have to wait for another night when I am feeling a little less jet-lagged, and have had a chance to sort out the happy blur of memories that are floating around in my brain.
Until then...
Comments (39)
My brother made tomato pie for us, but it didn't look like yours. Everyone enjoyed it, though!
Can't wait to hear "the rest of the story!"
i realize its ridiculous that i haven't called you yet to just ask you how it was .....
but i'm still curious for a post about it!
welcome home xoxo
Well, I was told that was always the way to end a story and keep them coming back for more...a cliff hanger! Alright, after some sleep I hope you will tell the rest of the bedtime story
Tomato pie sounds and looks yummy. Kind of pizza like but with a crumbly pie crust?
aw!! so fun to see pictures from there. i still cannot believe i've never been there, but now that i think about it, Tim doesn't like tomatoes, so...hmmm. that would make it less appealing for date night, eh?
so happy to have met you and to have had you here...you and your friendship are a gift i'm glad i've been given!
♥
@purpleamethyst76 - i think too sharing the recipe would be delightful! great idea!
surely there is a recipe out there somewhere in cyberspace? looks yummy ~
uh... so i didn't hear any moans....prly because they were drowned out by the ones coming from me
It's kinda funny how one forgets how good something is until they have it again, and then it's like "this is just SO delightful". It's kinda crazy that it can be THAT good every time. I'm excited to have someone join my in my quest for the perfect recipe, in my nearly abandoned quest
Oh and I love the little sentance about the waitress "smiling knowingly".
Oh yeah, i was gonna ask you what the verdict was on the whoopie pie...yay or nay? Now that I do have the best recipe of all times for those, so if you ever wanna make 'em for your kiddos, I can help you out.
I really kinda like this intro to your weekend away, makes me feel a little special that our cafe stop got 'featured' first
man. i really miss you April. Hearing you write, i can just hear your voice talking. I think of you often, wondering how your week is going. You mentioned jet lag. Ugh. Sorry that you have to deal w/ that (but kinda glad it didn't happen on this end of things, that would have been a bummer)
@foreveranoatneygirl_n2Hisown - Rachel, I can't believe we were so rude as to not invite you along on Monday. It was definatley NOT an exclusive event. Where was our heads?? Oh yeah, in the state of cotton fuzz. This would have been a perfect time for you to try the cafe too. Daryl would not dig the place either, so I jump for a chance to go there otherwise. I'm thinking if we ever have a FFE mini-reunion, like we have had in the past, we should go there...
@fwren - yes, there are a few recipes out there in cyberspace, but none of them are quite like the tomato pie cafe's, and that is the one we want to mimic. I have made several already in hopes of nailing a copycat, but have yet to succeed....
whoa. that is a long comment. sorry.
Now I sort of wish I had some tomato pie. After you find this recipe, I want in on it. I had some tomato pie that my mother-in-law made, but I don't think it's the same, from your picture.
It was soooo lovely to meet you and I'm glad that neither of us was killed by crazy internet people. :D
Ok I live not to far from thema and have never heard of the tomatoe pie place. You have me sold, I am going there!
Tomato pie? Hmm, as much as I love tomatoes, I am not sure about that one. I hope you can find a recipe that satisfies your longings!
So glad to have met you!
@writersblock02 - heyhey. let's meet for lunch w/ Rachel someday, since she's never been either. That was my brilliant thot of the day. Actually if you want to go there in secret, I won't be offended. It is in Lititz, across from the park.
love love love that you went to FFE. sooo awesome. and i also love that you got to meet and be with all those lovely ladies and have some special time with Thelma. from her post it sounded like you ladies had a fabulous time together. and that pie does sound glorious...and a waitress in a fedora sounds fabulous! i shall have to look this place up when i'm in Pennsylvania...love it last time i was there, will have to return (especially now that i know a person or two there!) so excited to hear your take on the journey.
I like your story and am excited to hear more! was so glad to meet you (you could have entertained me all day!) and it sounds like Thelma is a A+ hostess.
Tomato pie actually sounds real yummy!!
This is SO cute. :) And that cafe is so close to where my parents live, I can't believe I've never been there! Your description makes my mouth water!!
And I can't wait to hear the next post... :) It was just so so good to meet you, and have that time to hang out with you during the shopping trip. SO fun! And I keep thinking about you in the cute outfit and how you just rocked it. The aviators and skinny jeans especially. :)
Honestly I'm still skeptical about the tomato pie...just sayin':)
Glad you had a memorable trip and it will be fun to hear more about it.
Hope your Friday is a great one, friend!
I cannot help myself...tomato pie does not sound good to me. But...I totally believe you and Thelma that it was awesome and now I kinda wanna be able to try it for myself!! Also, can't wait for part #2 of this post!
And yeah, reading your blog has totally taken on a 3-D kind of dimension since I met you! And I love that!!
what is it like? a quiche? i bet i would love it. but i would DEFINITELY love to go to a cafe with you and thelma. no matter what i ate, that would be fun!
What a lovely story! Good luck on your quest for the recipe!
This makes me think of a divine dessert I enjoy each time we visit the island, Chocolate Stuff. It's AMAZING! The restaurant won't disclose the actual recipe but there are several imitations floating about, but none that we've attempted to make at home match the true dessert at the store. However, by some amazingly happy coincidence, the restaurant now offers shipping for it, so, if push comes to shove and I just must have some of that yummylish chocolate, I suppose I could order it... but it's steeply priced for a large amount. I suppose I'll just have to throw a party or something to justify it!
http://barbarajeans.com/menu.html - "Chocolate "Stuff" •
It was called “Chocolate Cobbler” but we were told by lots
of you that name didn’t fit. We know it’s better than any brownie.
It’s soft, smooth and very rich, and comes topped with homemade whipped
cream"
Wow, that looks wonderful. Reminds me of the time I ate tortilla soup for the first time in Texas, and even though I'm in New York, I still have urges to go back just to have it again!
Tomato pie. I love the way it sounds so odd. Hopefully, when I get a hold of the recipe and make it, it'll be more tasty than odd. :D
I am very interested in hearing about how you managed to schedule a six day trip for just yourself. Surely the planning that went into such an event is worthy of a post in itself.
Not too sure about the idea of tomato pie...
It looks so yummy! I noticed you'd been posting tomato pies on pinterest and I'd never heard of such a thing but they look really yummy! I don't know if you've tried this but when I'm looking for a specific kind of recipe, I love allrecipies,com and it always works wonders for me.
Hurry UP, April! I'm dying to hear your take on the visit with all the girlies. ( 8 Tomato pie? ew. I think. Well, maybe I'd like it.
i'm with lisa. i would love to go to a cafe with you and thelma no matter what i ate! and you totally sold me on the pie. and i really think the tomato cafe should just cave and hand over the recipe. look at all the extra business you generated for them. LOVED meeting you. i just raved about you tonight to some of my friends that were asking about ffe.