‘What’s for Lunch?’ Pi Day edition!
A pie with the symbol for the mathematical constant, Pi (π).
Andrew Martin via Pixabay
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There’s only one day a year made for lovers of math and dessert. And that’s March 14, or 3.14, the first three digits of the infinite, irrational number Pi.
Minnesota Now’s “What’s For Lunch?” series is counting pie as lunch on Pi Day.
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked to Callie Hoff, the assistant manager at the iconic Rustic Inn Cafe on the North Shore, where she was busy serving pies made from scratch.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: Hey, Happy Pi Day. That's P-I, an essential mathematical constant, but many more of us mark the occasion by eating pie, P-I-E. Don't know where you think the best pie is in the state of Minnesota. The Aroma Pie Shop in Wayland, Minnesota, is great. That's near Lanesboro. Charlie's Cafe in Freeport has fine pie.
But my favorite is the Rustic Inn along the North Shore of Lake Superior north of Two Harbors. The North Shore berry crumb pie? So good. And if I really want to go into a chocolate coma, the five layer chocolate pie is fantastic. Callie Hoff is the Assistant Manager at the Rustic Inn, and she is on the line. Happy Pi Day. How are you, Callie?
CALLIE HOFF: I'm good. Thank you guys for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. I'm just curious. I'm betting you probably made a lot of pie here today for Pi Day. How early did you get up?
CALLIE HOFF: I didn't have to, but I know that our bakers-- we've got more bakers on than usual, and then our head manager's up there. He's been there probably since 5:30.
CATHY WURZER: So tell me about the pie at Rustic Inn. You guys are known for some fantastic pie.
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We have lots of flavors, roughly about 18 to 20 kinds of pie that we have on about every single day. And then we've got the pumpkin and the pecan that are pretty seasonal for us.
CATHY WURZER: As I mentioned, the North Shore berry crumb pie is my favorite. Where did you guys come up with some of these recipes? Are these family heirloom recipes or experiments or what?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. The owners that had it before the current owners, it was all family tradition. Beth Sullivan, these are her recipes and her family's recipes. And then now, we are starting to create some more delicious ones. You can see our newest one coming out hopefully soon would be the key lime pie.
CATHY WURZER: Gosh, I love key lime pie. The Sullivan's had, as you say, the original Rustic Inn. Was that the very small, the tiny log version of the Rustic Inn before it was added onto?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. Yep. Beth Sullivan and her husband Jim had it before the current owners, and it was that small. And then when the construction happened and new roadways got put in, the building got moved. And now, it is where it is, and the gift shop and part of it has been added on.
CATHY WURZER: Got it. Right. Are you related to the new owners?
CALLIE HOFF: I am, yes.
CATHY WURZER: So you have a kind of an up close look at everything that happens at the Rustic Inn?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. A lot of behind the scenes stuff that a lot of people don't see, but we love our pie and their pie that they had created before, and that's why we are honored to take this over from them.
CATHY WURZER: Pie, of course, has to have a really good crust, and I think yours is really excellent. What's the secret behind your crust?
CALLIE HOFF: I think that it's all handmade. Everything that we put into our pies, from the dough to the fruit and all-- that's all handmade. We boil down our fruit, so I think that's what sets us apart from other people. From the crust on, it's all handmade, and we take pride in that.
CATHY WURZER: So you can, of course, buy pie all year round, right?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. 365 days of the year.
CATHY WURZER: But if you can't get to the Rustic Inn, is there any way to get the pie?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We ship every Monday and Tuesday, so you can head to our website and order the pies there. You can order up to two per cooler, we call it. And then if you want more pies, then we just ship more coolers at a time.
We've shipped all over the nation from California and Pennsylvania to Maine and Florida and Arizona. We've kind of shipped all over, so we're happy to do it, and we love our supporters across the nation.
CATHY WURZER: So I have family in Knife River, so we're really familiar with Rustic Inn. And my family says, gosh. They should be at the state fair or something like that. You ever thought about that?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, we have talked about it. The state fair is hard to get into, but at this point, we're just expanding our pie operations. So in the future, maybe that would be something that we will take on. But right now, we're so busy in the summer as is, and we love it. So we're going to keep our productions in house.
CATHY WURZER: OK. Say, today for Pi Day, what kind of pie is on the menu?
CALLIE HOFF: We have all of our kinds today besides the pumpkin and the pecan. My personal favorite is the raspberry cream. That's our signature meringue crust filled with the raspberry cream cheese and whipped cream mixture and then finished with a light whipped cream and a cream cheese topping, so that's one that I recommend.
Otherwise, like you said, the North Shore berry crumb and the five layer chocolate are two of our next tops within Rustic Inn. And we have $3.14 slices today, and then $3.14 off a whole pie.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can only imagine. I think they'll be out the door. I bet you're expecting a lot of folks.
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We're expecting more than usual, and we are happy that people are celebrating Pi Day with us.
CATHY WURZER: I know the winter has been a little bit difficult for many businesses along the North Shore. How have you guys fared?
CALLIE HOFF: We've been a little slower than normal winters just because we do have connection to the snowmobile trail. And without that snow and those snowmobilers, it's a little bit harder on our business. However, we do have loyal customers and people in the area that have been supporting us, and we appreciate that. But we are down in business compared to previous winters for sure.
CATHY WURZER: So it's nice to have a busy Pi Day today than, I bet.
CALLIE HOFF: It is, yes. We are excited for it.
CATHY WURZER: All right. I know you got to get going because you have to start welcoming your guests. Callie, thank you, and Happy Pi Day.
CALLIE HOFF: Thank you very much, and Happy Pi Day to you and all of the listeners.
CATHY WURZER: Callie Hoff is the Assistant Manager of the Rustic Inn Cafe in Castle Danger, Minnesota, across the road from Lake Superior. Got a favorite pie place? Listener Eric says it's the peanut butter pie at the Lazy Bear Grill in Barnum. Don't leave home without it, he says. Scotty says it's Betty's Pies for him up the shore from the Rustic. The French blueberry cream is his fave.
[BOB DYLAN, "COUNTRY PIE"]
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie
Raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and lime
What do I care?
Blueberry, apple, cherry, pumpkin, and plum
Call me for dinner, honey
I'll be there
But my favorite is the Rustic Inn along the North Shore of Lake Superior north of Two Harbors. The North Shore berry crumb pie? So good. And if I really want to go into a chocolate coma, the five layer chocolate pie is fantastic. Callie Hoff is the Assistant Manager at the Rustic Inn, and she is on the line. Happy Pi Day. How are you, Callie?
CALLIE HOFF: I'm good. Thank you guys for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. I'm just curious. I'm betting you probably made a lot of pie here today for Pi Day. How early did you get up?
CALLIE HOFF: I didn't have to, but I know that our bakers-- we've got more bakers on than usual, and then our head manager's up there. He's been there probably since 5:30.
CATHY WURZER: So tell me about the pie at Rustic Inn. You guys are known for some fantastic pie.
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We have lots of flavors, roughly about 18 to 20 kinds of pie that we have on about every single day. And then we've got the pumpkin and the pecan that are pretty seasonal for us.
CATHY WURZER: As I mentioned, the North Shore berry crumb pie is my favorite. Where did you guys come up with some of these recipes? Are these family heirloom recipes or experiments or what?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. The owners that had it before the current owners, it was all family tradition. Beth Sullivan, these are her recipes and her family's recipes. And then now, we are starting to create some more delicious ones. You can see our newest one coming out hopefully soon would be the key lime pie.
CATHY WURZER: Gosh, I love key lime pie. The Sullivan's had, as you say, the original Rustic Inn. Was that the very small, the tiny log version of the Rustic Inn before it was added onto?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. Yep. Beth Sullivan and her husband Jim had it before the current owners, and it was that small. And then when the construction happened and new roadways got put in, the building got moved. And now, it is where it is, and the gift shop and part of it has been added on.
CATHY WURZER: Got it. Right. Are you related to the new owners?
CALLIE HOFF: I am, yes.
CATHY WURZER: So you have a kind of an up close look at everything that happens at the Rustic Inn?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. A lot of behind the scenes stuff that a lot of people don't see, but we love our pie and their pie that they had created before, and that's why we are honored to take this over from them.
CATHY WURZER: Pie, of course, has to have a really good crust, and I think yours is really excellent. What's the secret behind your crust?
CALLIE HOFF: I think that it's all handmade. Everything that we put into our pies, from the dough to the fruit and all-- that's all handmade. We boil down our fruit, so I think that's what sets us apart from other people. From the crust on, it's all handmade, and we take pride in that.
CATHY WURZER: So you can, of course, buy pie all year round, right?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, absolutely. 365 days of the year.
CATHY WURZER: But if you can't get to the Rustic Inn, is there any way to get the pie?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We ship every Monday and Tuesday, so you can head to our website and order the pies there. You can order up to two per cooler, we call it. And then if you want more pies, then we just ship more coolers at a time.
We've shipped all over the nation from California and Pennsylvania to Maine and Florida and Arizona. We've kind of shipped all over, so we're happy to do it, and we love our supporters across the nation.
CATHY WURZER: So I have family in Knife River, so we're really familiar with Rustic Inn. And my family says, gosh. They should be at the state fair or something like that. You ever thought about that?
CALLIE HOFF: Yes, we have talked about it. The state fair is hard to get into, but at this point, we're just expanding our pie operations. So in the future, maybe that would be something that we will take on. But right now, we're so busy in the summer as is, and we love it. So we're going to keep our productions in house.
CATHY WURZER: OK. Say, today for Pi Day, what kind of pie is on the menu?
CALLIE HOFF: We have all of our kinds today besides the pumpkin and the pecan. My personal favorite is the raspberry cream. That's our signature meringue crust filled with the raspberry cream cheese and whipped cream mixture and then finished with a light whipped cream and a cream cheese topping, so that's one that I recommend.
Otherwise, like you said, the North Shore berry crumb and the five layer chocolate are two of our next tops within Rustic Inn. And we have $3.14 slices today, and then $3.14 off a whole pie.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can only imagine. I think they'll be out the door. I bet you're expecting a lot of folks.
CALLIE HOFF: Yes. We're expecting more than usual, and we are happy that people are celebrating Pi Day with us.
CATHY WURZER: I know the winter has been a little bit difficult for many businesses along the North Shore. How have you guys fared?
CALLIE HOFF: We've been a little slower than normal winters just because we do have connection to the snowmobile trail. And without that snow and those snowmobilers, it's a little bit harder on our business. However, we do have loyal customers and people in the area that have been supporting us, and we appreciate that. But we are down in business compared to previous winters for sure.
CATHY WURZER: So it's nice to have a busy Pi Day today than, I bet.
CALLIE HOFF: It is, yes. We are excited for it.
CATHY WURZER: All right. I know you got to get going because you have to start welcoming your guests. Callie, thank you, and Happy Pi Day.
CALLIE HOFF: Thank you very much, and Happy Pi Day to you and all of the listeners.
CATHY WURZER: Callie Hoff is the Assistant Manager of the Rustic Inn Cafe in Castle Danger, Minnesota, across the road from Lake Superior. Got a favorite pie place? Listener Eric says it's the peanut butter pie at the Lazy Bear Grill in Barnum. Don't leave home without it, he says. Scotty says it's Betty's Pies for him up the shore from the Rustic. The French blueberry cream is his fave.
[BOB DYLAN, "COUNTRY PIE"]
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie
Raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and lime
What do I care?
Blueberry, apple, cherry, pumpkin, and plum
Call me for dinner, honey
I'll be there
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