The Pie Isn't Always Better on the Other Side of the Oven

Last night my family ate our dinner at home before heading to a local theater to see a community production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. We feasted on marinated ahi tuna grilled to perfection, saffron rice, and a crisp, green salad - simple and delicious. The plan, of course, was to eat dinner at home, and then go out for dessert after the show.

One of our favorite past times following a show is to pick apart the production as we delve into a sugary confection, so at 9:45 p.m. we pulled into the parking lot of a Village Inn complete with window paint boasting, "We're Open Late," and "Try Our Pie" - exactly what the back-seat director ordered. My son and I ordered strawberry-rhubarb, while my husband went for the decadence of white chocolate cherry mousse filling. By the time we pressed the last crumbs of pastry with our forks, swigged the final draught of coffee, and tipped the waitress, the bill hit $19. As we folded ourselves into the car for the short drive home, my husband said, "Well, was it worth it?"

"No," was the immediate answer on my lips, and so crumbled the rest of our theater night tradition. We agreed that next month - when we see I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change - we will be heading home for a decadent dessert. Even our son agreed that while the pie was good, it was not worth the price, nor was it better than anything I could make at home. While my first thought was that we could just buy a nice frozen pie at the grocery and bake it before heading to the theater, the idea that even my son recognizes the value of eating home deserves something special. I have several weeks to mull it over, but I'm leaning toward a rich, gooey mud pie complete with ice cream, carmel, and chocolate - the perfect complement to a steaming cup of coffee or vanilla tea. I can hardly wait!