Pie in your eye

Pie is the top restaurant trend in the nation for 2011, according to trendspotters far and wide. There is a pies-only restaurant in New York, and pie is even usurping cake at weddings.

Inforzato’s is the former Hula Hottie’s, which this year changed concepts from Hawaiian to Italian. They can change it to Korean tacos and fried frogs for all we care, as long as there is pie. Co-owner Jill Infortazo is a master of caramel apple pie and New Yorkstyle cheesecake, which are almost always on hand. Call and order whole pies in any flavor you want: Kentucky bourbon, rum raisin, coconut cream, lemon chess, sweet potato and more. The $10 pizzas are not bad either. 244 W. Davis at Elsbeth, 214.943.2233.

The motto of norma’s is “Life is short. Eat dessert first.” Norma’s is famous for its mile-high meringue pies, including coconut, chocolate, lemon and chocolate-peanut butter. Every January, Norma’s hosts free pie day. It’s magical. 1123 W. Davis at Winnetka, 214.946.4711, normascafe.com.

spIral DIner — no eggs, no milk, still delicious. Sure, you could order something healthy at Spiral Diner. But that’s not the point. This is junk food for vegans, and the rest of us, too. Spiral makes blueberry pie, served a la mode with soy ice cream, plus pecan pie, sweet potato pie and many others. Oh, and they serve vegan Frito pie, too. 1101 N. Beckley at El Dorado, 214.948.4747, spiraldiner.com.

Elotes is a Mexican street food, and in our neighborhood, it is sold from carts outside Mexican grocery stores. Even if the only Spanish phrase you ever learn is “un elote, por favor”, we urge you to try it at least once. The handy graphic below explains the makings of an elote. Usually, eloteros (yes, there is a Spanish word for a person who sells corn) scoop the hot, pre-cut corn kernels into the cup and layer the ingredients on top. Sometimes they cut the corn off the cob to order and mix the ingredients in a bin before it goes in the cup. Whether you like yours with a squeeze of lemon, a dash of lemon pepper or “sin chile”, an elotero will hook you up with a tasty snack.

We want you to join our team

Advocate Publishing is interviewing candidates for a FULL-TIME ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE position. Print advertising sales experience required.

BENEFITS INCLUDE: