Pi(e) Day in Long Beach
If you didn’t know, March 14 (3-14) is Pi Day, a time to celebrate constants in mathematics (Pi is always 3.14) and dessert (Pie is always awesome). Finding great pie in Long Beach is a simple equation, it’s readily available at high-minded and innovative bakeries as well as some of the city’s oldest, most beloved eateries. Here’s a slice of some of the great places to enjoy Pi(e) Day any day.
The Pie Bar
When you offer everything from sweet to savory pies, pot to pet pies, Pi Day is a big deal. Accordingly, The Pie Bar (450 Pine Ave.) is offering a slice of its most popular pie, Key Lime, for just $3.14. Also, if your birthday is March 14, just show ID and you get a free slice of your choice. Pie Bar makes everything from scratch, producing traditional pies like Dutch Apple with the likes of Whiskey Peach, as well as the eye-catching purple Ube Coconut and vegan and gluten-free options.
Jongewaard's Bake N Broil
The beloved Bake n Broil (3697 Atlantic Ave.) has been producing great pies, and food, for more than half a century. Bakers arrive at 4:30 a.m. to produce about 60 handmade pies (that skyrockets to more than 2,000 leading up to Thanksgiving.) There’s everything from Apple to German Chocolate to French Peach to their most popular, Lemon Lush with its pecans, sweet and cream cheese and lemon curds. Order a pie by phone by 3 p.m. and you can have it the next day.
5000 PIES
Along with producing some of the best pie in the city, 5,000 Pies (2064 Santa Fe Ave.) has likely the best business concept. A social enterprise project of Fountain of Life Covenant Church, it aims to transform the lives of high school students through culinary employment and life skills coaching. They produce deep dish pizza and amazing sweet pies like salted caramel apple, maple dark chocolate pecan a whole lot more, including smaller “hand pies” of Nutella banana and lemon cream.
Polly's Pies
While Polly’s (3490 Atlantic Ave.), has been around more than 50 years and is well-known for its breakfast and coffee, its name clues you in to what they value. Their pie menu is not voluminous, focusing on the tried and true: apple, cherry, chocolate cream, and a little bit of crazy called Banberry, combining fresh strawberries with banana cream filling. They push the pie envelope with the Shake Pie, a slice of pie liquified in a blender with milk and ice cream and enjoyed through a straw.
HOF’S HUT
This local institution, which is offering $3.14 off whole pies for Pi Day, has been around more than 70 years. There are few things more satisfying in the city than stepping through Hof’s Hut (2147 N. Bellflower Blvd.) entrance to be greeted by its large refrigerated case of pies, particularly the deep red pile that makes up the strawberry. They also have blackberry, peach, pumpkin, Dutch apple, all the biggies, as well as cream fillings and meringues and a chicken pot pie as big as an actual pie.