# Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - rare in parts of the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006 "2013-11-28T15:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/21 "2013-11-28T20:08:24Z")
Strawberry rhubarb pie is delicious…it is even better if you leave out the rhubarb. Rhubarb is nasty-it has a metallic taste to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/22 "2013-11-28T23:32:37Z")
Being outraged at the prospect of rhubarb pie at any time of the year signifies an impossibly low threshold of outrage, or delayed post-concussion syndrome. Aren’t Bradshaw, Long et al the sort of people who get rhapsodic about terducken? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/23 "2013-11-29T08:19:05Z")
Rhubarb is most certainly a regional thing. When I was growing up as a kid in Illinois, we would have rhubarb pie a lot! (Although I don’t recall adding strawberries back then, but sounds like a great addition.) However, I guess it helps to live where rhubarb grows - and for sure not in Vegas but then again, I don’t recall ever seeing it on a menu in California, NYC and sure as hell not in Berlin. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/24 "2013-11-29T11:30:06Z")
I am from the south and have never heard of strawberry rhubarb pie. My grandmother in Arkansas grew both of them and made pies from both of them but never at the same time that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/25 "2013-11-29T13:00:32Z")
Had it once. It was okay. Not something you see with any regularity in Phoenix. And I didn’t get pecan OR pumpkin pie yesterday. Just a sad little piece of apple. Must remedy that. ---
**Author:** ![Labor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Labor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labor)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/26 "2013-11-29T14:59:53Z")
Mrs. Labor and I were flabergasted when we moved to Florida to learn that rhubarb does not got grow here. In order for healthy rhubarb to grow it needs to freeze in the winter. Ordinarily in northern climes rhubarb grows like (as) a weed and is nearly impossible to eradicate. It tastes best when harvested in the spring. But, as described above it does freeze well. We used to keep one bag of frozen rhubarb for a Thanksgiving pie. Inclusion of strawberrys is forsaken in our family, rhubarb needs to be eaten as God intended, in a pie with lots of sugar and a scoop of ice cream. In Florida people, especially young people have no knowledge of ruhubarb. It does not suprise me that the football commentators would not know of rhubarb pie. What outrages me is their seeming unwillingness to try it. Rhubarb pie is bracingly tart and sweet, inclusion of strawberries (though forbiddin in my house) seems to tame the tartness. I prefer straight rhubarb, but am willing to forgo entry into heaven if strawberry-rhubarb is the only alternative. Garrison Keillor makes the point in one of his essays from Lake Wobegon that rhubarb is the epitome of pies. He goes on to expound that pumpkin pie is the essence of mediocrity; the best pumpkin pie is not any better than the worst pumpkin pie. Finally, in my experience the ultimate thanksgiving dessert side board would consist of three pies; rhubarb, pecan and pumpkin, with whipped creme and/or ice cream for topping. Rhubarb and pecan are for adults and other sophistocates, pumpkin is for kids and those that don’t know any better. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/27 "2013-11-29T15:15:42Z")
I’ve heard of strawberry rhubarb pie but only from movies or books or some similar medium. I never actually saw rhubarb pie, strawberry or otherwise, while growing up in West Texas. Didn’t see it in the Southwest or in Hawaii. Did not see it where my grandmother lived in Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/28 "2013-11-29T15:48:59Z")
Grew up in Texas and had heard of it but never tried it until I lived in NW Arkansas, I love it. I do believe it is a regional thing but outrage at its inclusion seems a bit over the top. I want some now. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/29 "2013-11-29T16:13:00Z")
For those who have never had rhubarb, the best flavor comparison is that it tastes sort of like an extremely tart apple pie. But only sort of, of course ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/30 "2013-11-29T18:26:43Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > However, I guess it helps to live where rhubarb grows - and for sure not in Vegas but then again, I don’t recall ever seeing it on a menu in California, NYC and sure as hell not in Berlin. Right. I am British and I loves me some rhubarb, but never saw any, in any form, in the 20+ years I lived in California. (Well, I tell a lie. I had it _once_, when I bought some canned rhubarb imported from Britain in a store which had a British Foods section.) I thought rhubarb was just not an American thing, and am a bit surprised to learn from this thread that it is eaten in some areas. I am not sure why you would want to mix it with strawberry, though. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/31 "2013-11-29T18:31:53Z")
> [@Labor](#): > > Garrison Keillor makes the point in one of his essays from Lake Wobegon that rhubarb is the epitome of pies. He goes on to expound that pumpkin pie is the essence of mediocrity; the best pumpkin pie is not any better than the worst pumpkin pie. > > Finally, in my experience the ultimate thanksgiving dessert side board would consist of three pies; rhubarb, pecan and pumpkin, with whipped creme and/or ice cream for topping. Rhubarb and pecan are for adults and other sophistocates, pumpkin is for kids and those that don’t know any better. Yet another reason not to like Mr. Smarmy Garrison Keillor; he and you are wrong about pies. Pumpkin Pie is the ne plus ultra of pies. The best pumpkin pie is lovingly spiced and the pumpkin custard is silky with just the right lightness; the worst pumpkin pie is still good. Pecan pie is an assault to the tastebuds. Nobody needs anything that sweet. Rhubarb is OK. I’ll eat it. But pumpkin pie is the best. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/32 "2013-11-29T18:32:11Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I am not sure why you would want to mix it with strawberry, though. Yes, this is a question among rhubarb lovers. I love plain rhubarb pie, but I also love strawberry-rhubarb pie, as that is how I was initially introduced to it. There are also those, as noted in the posts above, that are equally purist about not mixing strawberry with anything in a pie. And I can see that. If you’ve got great, fresh strawberries, why sullen them with any other flavors? But I think strawberry and rhubarb are a wonderful pair of flavors that work together, with the strawberry rounding off some of the rhubarb’s tartness. They just seem to be made for each other. I daresay, of strawberry, rhubarb, and strawberry-rhubarb, I think strawberry-rhubarb would be my favorite, although I’ll take any of those pies. It may just be my favorite pie ever, but I’m not particularly big on sweets. Pumpkin is okay. Sweet potato is better. But once a year is enough for me with either of those pies. Pecan pie is good for exactly one bite before the sugar kills you. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/33 "2013-11-29T18:43:27Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Rhubarb is OK. I’ll eat it. But pumpkin pie is the best. > > 😃 I consider pumpkin a decoration, not a food. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/34 "2013-11-29T20:27:19Z")
I have lived all over the southern US, and while I have heard of strawberry rhubarb pie, I have never seen or tasted one. No rhubarb growing in these parts. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/35 "2013-11-29T21:17:12Z")
I’m surprised to learn that rhubarb pie is made as far south as Arkansas. In any case, rhubarb in any form is unknown in New Orleans cuisine. There are, however, a lot of transplants here and many of them open restaurants and bakeries. There is something of a local fad to introduce non-New Orleans foods to the locals via hip-&-trendy eateries. With a bit of legwork, I could probably turn up a rhubarb (or strawberry-rhubarb) pie made somewhere locally. This thread has made me curious. Every now and then, I see rhubarb in the groceries around here. It’s obviously brought in from somewhere else – but then again, lots of other produce is, too. If I pick up a random bunch of rhubarb next time I see some, is there anything quick & interesting I can do with it? Something quicker/dirtier than making a pie? Just so I can say “I’ve eaten rhubarb before”? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/36 "2013-11-29T23:00:08Z")
I wonder if Crazy Rhubarb Lady (of the 2012 viral video) mixes with strawberries? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/37 "2013-11-29T23:24:59Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve heard of strawberry rhubarb pie but only from movies or books or some similar medium. I never actually saw rhubarb pie, strawberry or otherwise, while growing up in West Texas. Didn’t see it in the Southwest or in Hawaii. Did not see it where my grandmother lived in Arkansas. > [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Grew up in Texas and had heard of it but never tried it until I lived in NW Arkansas, I love it. NW Arkansas is where my grandmother lived, in the Fort Smith area, but I never encountered it there. Odd, because she was quite a good baker. She would always make pies and other stuff when we visited. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/38 "2013-11-30T00:15:44Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Every now and then, I see rhubarb in the groceries around here. It’s obviously brought in from somewhere else – but then again, lots of other produce is, too. If I pick up a random bunch of rhubarb next time I see some, is there anything quick & interesting I can do with it? Something quicker/dirtier than making a pie? Just so I can say “I’ve eaten rhubarb before”? Just going off ancient memory, when I could go in the backyard and pluck rhubarb growing wild. Eaten raw, it is VERY sour - and the top leaves are poisonous so I wouldn’t nibble on those. I believe you just cut the stems (sort of like celery), add lots and lots of sugar and boil it? I would strongly suggest going onto Google to get a good recipe or two. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/39 "2013-11-30T00:31:02Z")
Lived in Northern and Southern Virginia and North Carolina. Didn’t know rhubarb existed until moving to Ohio(where it’s not all that big). ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006/40 "2013-11-30T00:35:35Z")
When I lived in NW Arkansas (mid 90’s), there were small plots of it growing in numerous places. I had to ask someone what it was, I had heard of it but never seen it before. There was a little cafe on Dickson in Fayetteville that served an absolutely amazing Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I really want some pie now. **Capt Kirk** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-rare-in-parts-of-the-us/675006.md?page=3)