Brooklyn Key Lime Pies
For my money, there is no finer pie in this world than Key lime pie, and there is no finer Key lime pie than those found at Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Most bakers, including those in the actual Florida Keys, use concentrated lime juice and premade crusts, but not Florida native and Brooklyn piemeister Steve Tarpin, who gets authentic Key limes (much smaller and more acidic than regular Persian limes) shipped in to squeeze in-house. And he makes his own pie crusts using butter -- wonderful, real butter. His pies are deliciously creamy -- almost silky in texture -- and have a perfect balance of sweetness and limey tartness. The graham-cracker crust is just crumbly enough to keep its integrity on your plate and then surrender in your mouth. No self-respecting clown would throw a pie of this caliber in someone's face, and I'm not whistling in the dark on this one either: not only does Brooklyn house of steak decadence Peter Luger offer them for dessert, the freaking American Pie Council also gives Steve's a ringing endorsement, something they don't do willy nilly. Nillily. Anyway, you don't have to wait until National Pie Day (January 23) rolls around again to enjoy Key lime pie nirvana. Just truck on over to Red Hook (kind of a schlep, but worth it for more than just the pies) and pick up one (or eight) for yourself, and you'll become a pie proselytizer too.
Steve's Key Lime Pies [Official site]
Previously: Tocqueville Restaurant, Chowhound Sold, NYC Dumpling Survey, Pushcart NYC Foodblog, Scramble for Supper
