2009-11-19

‘Pie queens’ with The Upper Crust offer extraordinary desserts

By Carol L. Smith

Melissa Checkovage is a self-proclaimed “pie queen” – complete with tiara. With her mother, Glenna Dethrow, the duo has formed a part time business they call “The Upper Crust.”

They have become a weekend ritual for many locals, who have quickly become addicted their pretty pies. Dethrow and Checkovage bake on Fridays in the Silver Sage commercial kitchen and then set up a small portable pie shop in front of the Bandera Tire Shop parking lot every Saturday and Sunday.

“I always wanted to have a pie shop,” said Checkovage.

“And I always wanted to have a restaurant,” added Dethrow.

With the slow economy and trying to put a daughter through college, Checkovage decided to try to make a go of her pie shop idea. Originally from Illinois, the pair both ended up in Texas, with Dethrow arriving first. Obviously both ladies possess a knack for the business, wearing cowboy aprons and exhibiting vivacious personalities.

After being in business about a year, they’ve developed a slew of regular customers. Victoria Wilds of the Twin Elm guest ranch stopped in to make a Thanksgiving order of four pies and a large pumpkin roll. “I don’t do pies,” she said, “ and these are beautiful and delicious.”

Dethrow and Checkovage have sold pies to folks as far way as Wisconsin and one of their most famous clients was a Cleveland Indian baseball pitcher.

“I’ll give anybody the recipes for any of our pies,” said Checkovage, and her mother finishes the sentence with “ They usually just come back and buy another one, they don’t bake one themselves!” These two obviously work very well together and are very close.

Pies from The Upper Crust are all hand made, completely from scratch with premium ingredients. All crusts are made with sweet cream butter, which makes them extremely flaky. “Don’t put them in the microwave to heat them,” cautioned Checkovage,” it will make the crust soft and mushy. Always heat them in the oven.”

The duo offers a 10 percent discount for orders of more than three pies and they will ship. Pies such as berry, pecan, pumpkin, and fruit pies, as well as fudge, peanut butter and buttermilk, cost $20 each. They also offer small “tasters,” or miniature pies, for $2.

With advance notice, The Upper Crust mavens take special orders and bake for large groups.

Contact Glenna at 830-688-9880 and Melissa at 830-688-2014 with your orders.