keep your fork, there's pie!

I've known 'urban' hospitality living in Virginia in the early '80s, but our trip south to Arkansas this month brought a whole new meaning to Southern Hospitality. Mena, Arkansas has several home town cafes the best being the Skylight and the Mena Cafe and Vickie's up the road a piece in Hatfield. Here's the best part: homemade pie in every one of them! Too many kinds to remember. Our first visit to the Mena Cafe found the place closed on Mondays. As we sadly turned back to the car the cafe's door opened and out came the owner, her husband,her two daughters and twin granddaughters, inviting us to come in anyway 'if all you want is pie. We have pie. I'll go make a pot of coffee while you decide what kind  you want.' Thus began a one week love affair with 'southern' pies: chocolate cream w/meringue, chocolate peanut butter, coconut cream, cherry hand pies, and so on. And on.

Fondly remembering the friendly people of Arkansas, I link a piece of pumpkin pie to ABC Wednesday in honor of the letter P.