Whidbey Pies Cafe

Whidbey Pies Cafe: A local recommendation

My friend who traveled around Seattle’s outlying islands groused about how odd it was that there were not more apple pies for sale. Washington State is famous for its excellent apples; and yet the pies and pastries we tried were flabby-crusted and boring. We had just about given up finding the right pie until we drove into this beautiful and picturesque group of stores on the grounds of the historic Greenbank farm.

It would be hard to miss Whidbey Pies Cafe, as the large red barn it is housed in says WHIDBEY PIES in ten foot tall letters. My guess is you could paint over the sign and people would still find the place. All you have to do is follow your nose.

What to eat at Whidbey Pies Cafe

The pies are both sweet and savory and they all are wonderful. My ideal menu might be a main entrée of pie followed by pie for dessert. The savory pies like Chicken Pot Pie or the sensational Goat Cheese with Creamed Leeks, Caraway Whipped Potatoes and Caramelized Onions vary with the week and the season.

First and foremost: apple pie. Its crust is flakey; its innards are not overly sweet or overly spiced. No one got too creative with this apple pie; it is exactly what a great one should be. It makes the 20 minute ferry ride to Whidbey Island well worth the trip.

Carmel apple pie is very popular, but I also love such classics as boysenberry, marionberry, cherry and rhubarb. They are summer pies. In the fall and winter, make sure you have some cranberry pie. Whidbey Pies uses whatever is at its farm stands any given month.