Mrs. Redd's Pies

Mrs. Redd’s Pie Company is a hard brand to learn about.  They have no website.  Yup, in the year 2022, a company exists with no website.  And in this case, it is not because its a tiny little local bakery in a small town.  

Mrs. Redd's does have a retail bakery location, but their baked goods are primarily distributed by grocery stores and supermarkets, at least in California.  I see their "pies" on the shelves at my local Safeway all the time, right alongside Hostess, and I know Walmart carries them too.  It seems Mrs. Redd's is a fairly big brand, just, one with virtually no internet presence.  All I could learn about the company is their moto:

"Real fruit filling."

So I can't tell you much about the brand, besides that they make snack pies, much like Hostess, in a variety of flavors: apple, cherry, berry, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, pineapple, and lemon.  They claim to be "locally sourced" and use real fruit.  Reviews are generally quite positive, always saying how they are better than Hostess.  I've tried to find the coconut, pineapple, vanilla, or chocolate ones in stores near me, but alas, the less exciting apple, cherry, berry, and every once in a while, lemon, ones are all my stores seem to have.

Pies.

I've wondered about the brand for a while, so, one day, when really craving that kind of thing, I took a plunge, and picked up a few.  They all come as individuals, in paper bags.  I suspected they'd be much like the Hostess snack pies (which I've reviewed before) they were displayed alongside (e.g. not an actual pie crust, made for one-handed eating, and filled with generic goo, not wholesome ingredients), or perhaps akin to McDonald's pies (which I've also reviewed)?

Berry Pie.

The first one I tried was the "berry" pie.

I eagerly opened my package to find my berry pie.  It was significantly smaller than the packaging.  I bit in to the end and ... honestly, was met with disappointment.  The bite was entirely crust, even though I took a big bite.  And that crust?  Well, kinda, gross?  I knew it wouldn't be flaky pie crust, but, I thought with the glaze it would have some kind of redeeming element.  It really ... didn't.  It didn't taste like much at all, it wasn't particularly sweet, and the texture was just ... there.  

I pushed onward.  Crust only ... uh ... *+.

Berry Pie: Cross Section.

What were the berries lurking within?  A glance at the ingredients tells me it is ... blackberries.  Just blackberries.  For some reason, I expected a mix of berries.  Why not just call this blackberry pie?  I wished I had looked at the label before purchasing, because, honestly, I would have picked cherry, or even lemon, instead.  I just don't dig blackberries that much (seeds!).  I say this as someone who grew up with blackberry bushes in her yard, and copious amounts of fresh berries, and always, blackberry pies.  Oh, well.  The imagery on the front wrapper was indeed only blackberries, so, not entirely misleading.  Again, oh, well.

Once I got past the end crust, the pie really was loaded up with filling.  And I need not fear those blackberry seeds, as seeds were nowhere to be found.  It was just dark colored, vaguely berry flavored, goo.  Thick, gloopy goo.  Er, "real fruit filling"?

At room temperature, this thing was just ... not good.  Hostess pies are considerably better.  But still, I pushed onward.

I threw it in the toaster oven for a few minutes to warm it up.  I got out maple ice cream, whipped cream, and fresh blackberries.  I served it warm, a la mode, with extra berries and whip, and then, and only then, did I enjoy it.  But ... I certainly wouldn't get another, as it didn't offer much besides some warm fruity goo to top my ice cream/whip/berries.

What is remarkable about it is that it is somehow 520 calories, and 21g fat, for a very small pie.  If it tasted particularly decadent, I can understand that, but I have no clue where all those calories went - this didn't taste like it should be particularly calorie-laden, and given that it required at least one scoop of ice cream and a generous pile of whipped cream to make it edible, I quickly had a 1000 calorie mediocre dessert on my hands.

** as packaged, **+ once warm, *** once warm and a la mode + whip + berries.  Clearly, not getting another.

Update Review: Except, really strangely, I found myself craving another a few days later.  So I got another.  I served it warm, a la mode, with fresh blueberries this time, and liked it even more.  I was just really in the mood for it I think.  I think I still like Hostess ones more though, the crust on this one just isn't as good. ***+ for served my way, with adjusted expectations, and strong craving.

Apple Pie.

Still intrigued by Mrs. Redd's I opted for the apple pie next, since, well, it is a classic, and, as I said in my review of a similar product from Entenmann's, "Sometimes, a simple little snack pie is all you want." 

I had a better sense of what to expect this time though, and when that first bite at room temperature yielded all mediocre crust and no filling, I was ready for it.  My toaster oven was also ready, so I could warm it up, as I knew how much that transformed the berry pie.

Once warmed up, and served a la mode, I really actually enjoyed this pie.  It doesn't have as much glaze as its Entenmann's or Hostess counterparts, and the crust isn't particularly great (it isn't bad either, it just kinda "is"), but when eaten together with ice cream and filling, it was a complete tasty bite.  The filling was diced apple and some goo, nice to have the apple bits, but still plenty of thick goo.  Lightly spiced.  Again, not remarkable, but warmed up, with the ice cream and the crust, I was quite satisfied.

I wouldn't go out of my way for this pie, and it certainly wasn't as glorious as something like the deep fried version from Krispy Krunchy Chicken (zomg, like their mac and cheese, sooo good, and yes it is just fast food!), but when you know what to expect, and how to serve it, it is quite satisfying, and for $1 a pie ... absolutely worth it.

***+.

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Dragon Eats

Dragon Eats is a small chain of casual Vietnamese lunch spots, with a location really close to my house.  I've walked by sooooo many times, and always been a bit curious as I love a good bahn mi, but, I aways go by on the weekend, when they are closed.  The location near me is open only Mon-Fri, lunchtime only, and takeout only.

I became further interested in Dragon Eats during the pandemic, when they managed to reopen partway through, when the rest of my neighborhood was entirely shut down.  They always had a crowd, and most often then not, a sign out saying they were out of duck (this seems to be a very common occurrence!)  Whenever I walked by on weekends, I saw an employee (the owner?) busy stocking things, cleaning, prepping.  I wanted to root for them to make it through the pandemic just because it seemed like they were working so hard.

I only later learned the Dragon Eats has several locations, the others are open on weekends.   I was able to visit recently while on a neighborhood tour (run by my neighborhood community district), and also got a chance to meet the owner.  He verified what I suspected - they care about freshness and roast their own duck, chop veggies and herbs fresh every morning, etc.

Menu.

The menu at Dragon Eats is made up of only a few things: banh mi, fresh bowls, salads, and fresh rolls.  Most are available with several different protein options. Bags of chips and bottled drinks found out the menu. 

We were able to try both a bahn mi and fresh roll on our tour, but alas, I wasn't able to choose the protein.  I'd love to return again and order something I like more.

5 Spices Chicken Bahn Mi (half). $8.50.

"Pate, mayo, carrot + pickled diakon, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno."

Bahn Mi are available in 7 varieties: classic roast pork with pate and the works, a similar version with 5 spice chicken, a tempting sounding sardine option (no pate, add fried shallots), roast duck (often sold out!  No pate, with sweet and sour sauce), pork meatball (no pate), garlic butter chicken breast (also no pate), or a vegan teriyaki tofu with fried shallots.

If I was ordering myself, I'd be tempted by the classic roast pork with pate as I just love pate, possibly the sardine one because I do love oily little fish, maybe the pork meatball, or the roast duck although I wasn't quite so sure about the sweet and sour sauce.  But alas, for this event, our host picked one of the two I'd never pick: the 5 spices chicken.  I'd even pick tofu over this.  But at least it wasn't the garlic butter chicken breast, as this at least had pate?

I was still able to evaluate the quality of the bread and freshness of ingredients, even if the primary component, the chicken, wasn't for me.

The baguette was nicely crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, seemed fresh enough.  It wasn't remarkable, but it wasn't bad.  I liked the generous portion of pickled carrot + diakon, and it was clear that the cucumber and herbs were quite fresh.  The mayo was pretty minimal - I'll be honest, I really like a significant slather of mayo in my bahn mi, and this left me wanting for more creaminess.  Likewise, the pate, just a tiny tiny amount ... honestly, I wouldn't have known it was there if not listed on the menu.  And then of course, the chicken.  Which was a mix of dark and white meat, mostly dark, and well marinated in the 5 spice blend.  It made me wish it was pork or duck.

So overall ... fresh ingredients, clearly made with care, but I wanted far more pate, and, well, not chicken (the later bit is not their fault in any way though).  The $8.50 price for a full size sandwich seems reasonable.

***.

Chicken Fresh Rolls.  $8.50/each.

"Avocado, rice noodle, red leaf lettuce, mint".

For a lighter option, in addition to bowls, Dragon Eats offers fresh rolls, large spring rolls, in only 3 varieties: shrimp, chicken breast, or teriyaki tofu.  All have rice noodles, lettuce, and mint inside.  I'd normally order shrimp, and would never pick chicken, particularly as it has avocado also and I'm allergic, but alas, I wasn't ordering.

I couldn't really evaluate this, but, it was well wrapped, had very visible fresh large slices of avocado, plenty of minced chicken, and rice noodles.  And, um, some cilantro garnish.

Peanut Sauce.

The fresh rolls come with peanut sauce, which was tasty enough, although I'd prefer something like sweet chili, rather than this heavy sauce. ***.

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