Pi Day, also known as Pie Day, is celebrated on March 14. When did 3/14 first become known as Pie Day?
The first recognized celebration was held in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Physicist Larry Shaw had the idea to celebrate the day by marching around a circle and then eating both savoury and sweet pies. While marching around in a circle may not be everyone’s slice of pie, most can agree on how fun it is to eat one. The question is: Which pie is the most popular?
In 2012, Tenderflake ran a national survey to determine Canada’s pie preferences:
10 per cent of Canadians favour blueberry pie, but in British Columbia, 14 per cent prefer that flavour.
8 per cent of Canadians are more likely to prefer cherry pie, and provincially, cherry is the most popular flavour in Alberta.
Nationally, 25 per cent of Canadians prefer a savoury pie to a sweet one, but Alberta has the highest percentage of chicken pot pie lovers, at 38 per cent.
76 per cent of Canadians prefer sweet pies, but the highest percentage goes to Quebec, where 83 per cent preferred a sweet pie. However, when it comes to tourtière, a whopping 50 per cent of Quebecers preferred it more than the rest of the nation. (Only 22 per cent of Canadians like the savoury meat pie.)
Quebecers are also the most likely to enjoy ice cream with their sweet pie. The survey observed Quebec at 59 per cent against 51 per cent nationally)
The survey also noted that Ontarians are the most likely to add hot sauce to their savoury pie. Of course, no survey would be complete without a look into North America’s most popular savoury pie: The pizza.
In 2013 business analyst Brian Roemmele researched point-of-sale data from 604 pizza locations across the United States to determine the most popular toppings.
The most popular topping at the time was listed as pepperoni, at 36 per cent, second most popular was sausage by 14 per cent, and the third most popular topping were mushrooms at 11 per cent. It should be noted here, that the pineapple topping (AKA “Hawaiian Pizza”) was invented in Canada.
Below are some examples of Canada’s specialty pies you should try from each ofour provinces:
- Newfoundland: Seal Flipper Pie
- Prince Edward Island: Rhubarb pie
- Nova Scotia: Rappie pie
- Quebec: Tourtière
- Ontario: Butter Tarts
- Manitoba:Apple pie
- Saskatchewan: Cloudberry pie
- Alberta: Flapper pie
- British Columbia: Blueberry Pie
- Yukon: Pumpkin Pie
- Nunavut: Serviceberry pie
FAQs
Apple Pie. What it is: Somehow both quintessentially English and American, this may be the most famous pie of all. In Britain it goes back to the 1300s, and the earliest recipe includes figs and raisins. Modern recipes tend to consist of apples, sugar, butter and cinnamon encased in shortcrust pastry.
What pie is Ontario known for? ›
Nova Scotia: Rappie pie. Quebec: Tourtière. Ontario: Butter Tarts. Manitoba: Apple pie.
What is the most popular pie in England? ›
One of the most popular comfort foods in the United Kingdom is called shepherd's pie, a hot and savory dish reminiscent of a casserole, consisting of minced lamb or mutton meat, potatoes, onions, carrots, Worcestershire sauce, thick gravy, and seasonings such as marjoram, parsley, and black pepper.
Do they eat pumpkin pie in Canada? ›
Today, throughout much of Canada and the United States, it is traditional to serve pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner.
Is apple or pumpkin pie more popular? ›
The number one spot should be no surprise. Pumpkin pie reigns supreme once again, with 36 percent of American adults saying it's their favorite (beating out the next pie in line—pecan—by more than double).
What state eats the most pie? ›
The data was collected by evaluating which states saw more pie orders in 2018 when compared to the rest of the country.
- New Mexico: 261% more pie orders.
- Arizona: 246% more pie orders.
- Indiana: 173% more pie orders.
- Missouri: 145% more pie orders.
- West Virginia: 135% more pie orders.
- Michigan: 126% more pie orders.
pie, dish made by lining a shallow container with pastry and filling the container with a sweet or savoury mixture.
What is Ontario Canada most known for? ›
Besides being Canada's main economic hub, Ontario is also known for its natural diversity, including vast forests, beautiful provincial parks, four of the five Great Lakes and the world-famous Niagara falls.
Are meat pies popular in Canada? ›
French-Canadian Meat Pie, aka “Tourtiere,” is a regional dish enjoyed throughout Canada and even in New England in the United States.
Is apple pie American or Canadian? ›
Rather than the good old US-of-A, apple pie as we know it first originated in England, where it developed from culinary influences from France, the Netherlands, and even the Ottoman Empire. In fact, apple trees weren't even native to North America until the Europeans arrived.
Apple pie, various locations
Famous for its flaky crust, American-style apple pie became popular when settlers brought the dish over from Europe; in 1796, two recipes appeared in America's first cookbook, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, and the dish has been a Thanksgiving favourite ever since.
What is British pie? ›
Steak and ale pie is a traditional British dish where a perfectly cooked pastry shell is filled to the rafters with tender slow-cooked steak, gravy and various vegetables. The early versions of this British staple were first recorded in the 18th century, where a beefsteak pudding was combined with suet.
Where is grape pie popular? ›
Grape pie is a specialty and tradition of Naples, New York, host of the Naples Grape Festival and home to Angela Cannon-Crothers, author of Grape Pie Season. The traditional recipe, using Concord grapes, is said to taste like wine due to the inclusion of tannins.
