This blog post was updated on July 26, 2021.
A satisfying holiday, both mathematically and gastronomically, Pi Day is celebrated each year on March 14th.. The date (3/14) is significant because 3.14 are the first three digits of pi in decimal form. Physicist Larry Shaw organized the first Pi Day celebration at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988. Similar to that first Pi Day festival, subsequent gatherings over the years have involved walking around in circles and eating fruit pies to honor the well-known mathematical constant. Of course, Pi Day celebrations vary from region to region, depending on each area’s pie specialties. Here are five of my personal favorites to consume as I ruminated on my favorite irrational number.
Washington Cherry Pie
I cannot tell a lie, George Washington’s favorite pie is also mine. Washington cherries taste better than any other cherry I’ve ever devoured, and they are absolutely divine in pie form.
Southern Chess Pie
Chess pie is a custard pie made with buttermilk, sugar and cornmeal. It is popular throughout the South, known for its rich flavor and decent shelf life (if those Pi Day revelers don’t get to it first).
California Chocolate Raisin Pie
First featured in the New York Times Heritage Cookbook by Jean Hewitt, this rich, sweet California treat features chopped raisins mixed with a decadent chocolate filling.
Philadelphia Lemon Meringue Pie
This East Coast classic is comprised of a sweet lemon filling in a graham cracker shell, topped with fluffy, light meringue. A sweet-but-refreshing pie, lemon meringue takes a bit of prep work (but it’s all worth it).
Georgia Peach Pie
There are few things more delicious than fresh Georgia peaches baked into a buttery crust (with a sprinkle of sugar on top, of course) paired with a cup of coffee. (Pro Tip: Make this your Pi Day breakfast.)
For more information on regional U.S. pies and recipes, I recommend the book United States of Pie: Regional Favorites from East to West, North to South by Adrienne Kane.
If you’re interested in taking a pie tour of the United States, use code SM15 this month to save on domestic flights and hotels at onetravel.com!
Happy Pi Day!
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