Olallieberry Time
With a lyrical name that’s just too much fun to say, olallieberries are black knobby berries with a sweet-tart, wine-y flavor that grow along the Central coast for a fleeting six weeks in summer.
Now’s the time to enjoy them fresh, especially at u-pick farms such as Phipps Country Store & Farm in Pescadero.
Perhaps no place has made olallieberries more famous, though, than Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero.
The family-run business that started in 1934 is justly known for its artichoke soup, cioppino and other fresh seafood dishes. But it’s the hand-made ollalieberry pie that everyone saves room for. Enjoy it at this landmark restaurant for$6.50 a slice or $25 for a whole pie. Because Duarte’s freezes a huge supply of the ollalieberries each season, the pie is available year-round.
For the past few years, Duarte’s also has been selling ($14) unbaked, frozen whole olallieberry pies at select Bay Area stores, including Zanotto’s in San Jose and the Milk Pail in Mountain View. Later this year, the frozen pies also will begin being sold at all Whole Foods in Northern California.
Place the frozen pie in the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 60 minutes. What emerges is a golden, flaky crust filled to the brim with bubbling, juicy berries.
Each pie serves eight at 330 calories per serving.
Or try your hand at baking your own from scratch. This year, the Duarte family self-published a book, “Duarte’s Tavern, Where Friends Meet Since 1894.” The coffee table-size book is filled with love and lore about this iconic restaurant, which was named an “American Classic” by the James Beard Foundation. It’s also full of colorful history about this coastal town. The book, written by Pescadero author, Tess Black, features a dozen recipes, including one for the olallieberry pie. The $55 book is available at Duarte’s or on its Web site.
Additionally, find the recipe in my write-up at Via magazine.
One taste and you’ll know why folks just can’t get enough of this berry with the sing-song name.
Another Ollalieberry Treat: Luis Moro Chocolates
This pie looks wonderful!
Cheers,
Rosa
We’re heading up to the central coast next month and olallieberry pie is definitely on our must-try list!
Available at Whole Foods? Yippee! I love that pie! Gorgeous photo too.
I love olallieberries! Anytime I see things made with them I snatch it up right away 🙂
One of the many incredible joys of living in Pescadero is olallieberries! Carolyn–come down and we’ll have a feast–you’ve got to taste some of the new goodies at Harley Farms too.
Oh I miss the artichoke soup in Duarte’s Tavern. It’s quite good. I did not know abt the olallieberry pie though. Guess I am missing out big time :O
I’ve never heard of this berry ever but your pie looks so luscious I wish we had these! 😮
I feel kind of deprived that I’ve never even SEEN olallieberries before! This pie looks deliciously juicy!
Carolyn, It looks delish! I had never heard of them before. Thanks for sharing!
This photo made my mouth water. I wish I had a slice right now to go with my coffee. I’ll look for it this weekend.
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I personally enjoy using this pie to style my hair. It works wonders on my follicles. On the other hand I have a driving urge to smear it’s delicious berries all over face and make whale noises into a megaphone. Great recipe. 5 stars. ~redhead sam
I associate ollalieberries completely with Fat Apples restaurant in Berkeley and El Cerrito. The pie is good. But the milkshakes are phenomenal.