Marie Callender's and San Diego Chicken Pie Shop- chicken pie two ways

mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog with daily posts ranging from the unusual to common foods, is back again today with a post from Cathy because Kirk is very far away right now, too busy eating than writing, while Ed(from Yuma) is busily composing a post while eating.

This is yet another post of the coincidental birthday week foods enjoyed by The Mister and myself. We enjoy a meal out each day, beginning on His birthday and ending on my birthday (Mondays this year) and there have been coincidentally similar foods ordered by each of us when we had our individual choice of birthday meals.

 I've never written about Marie Callender's, a restaurant chain which is headquartered in California and had its beginnings here in the 1930's, selling pies.     It used to be considered a 'fancier' family restaurant we stopped in to visit regularly, which fell off our radar years ago. The fireplace in the back room has been overtaken by a television set! We were here because The Mister was wanting some of that old fashioned 'comfort' food as His birthday meal.   As always, a large piece of still warm Marie's famous cornbread with whipped butter was brought out to the table before we even ordered. I remember when Marie's began selling a lot of their products on the shelves and in freezers, especially cornbread mix. It's nice to enjoy some of that memory evoking food at home.   On this day, I decided to try the lunch special quiche and salad sampler ($8) choosing a Caesar salad and spinach-based Lorraine quiche.  Out of the oven fresh and warm, with the light, flaky crust, this quiche was a filling, custard based, spinach filled, cheese and bacon topped great meal.     The mini pot pie meal ($10.99). A classic pot pie (with only a golden crust on top) is quite large and also served piping hot.  The filling with cubed white meat chicken, peas and carrots in a not-salty gravy is the same as always, comforting.It's called a 'meal' because not only do you get a pot pie and salad, but also your choice of a slice of one of the famous dessert pies (there are more than 20 available daily) is included!  After much discussion (of what I called The Misters meal choice a 'pie-pie' meal), we decided to share a slice of double cream lemon pie for dessert.  So tasty, creamy with that perfect crust.  A great birthday meal.

Marie Callender's , multiple locations. Website

One morning The Mister reminded me it was a was 'my' birthday day (it does get boring going out to eat daily, especially near the end of that week, closer to 'my' day). We started driving,

   noticing that the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop, which I had only written about twice, was already open.  This classic diner, open in San Diego since 1938, began in 2009 serving breakfast from 10 am-noon on weekdays and 8 a.m.-noon on weekends.  The Mister was not in a 'pot pie' mood and ordered a Hot Turkey Sandwich ($7.29), which is typical: turkey surrounded by white bread, topped with the same gravy placed on top of the chicken pot pies and  served with mashed potatoes.

We had walked in while the breakfast menu was still available. I wanted breakfast, but also chicken pie; 'The Neighborhood Grind' ($9.25) was my choice.  There were choices of egg prep, gravy and breakfast meat.  The Grind is a classic Chicken Pie Shop chicken pie (which is filled with chicken, turkey and gravy; no vegetables), topped with two eggs and country gravy, accompanied by hash browns.  My choice of sausage instead of bacon was great!  Those sausages were tasty, large, fresh and something I will order again; hash browns were perfectly crispy; the pie, fresh and as I remember.  The eggs on top of the pie and eaten with the crust were a great taste combination and the whole plate was extremely satisfying.

 San Diego Chicken Pie Shop 2633 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego 92104 (619) 295-0156 website 

There you go, six birthday meals in only three posts.  We hadn't planned our cravings and realizing the coincidences, a pleasant bonus.  I hope your week has been going well. 

Comments

[janfrederick]

How fun! I used to work at Marie Callender's waaaay back when. The banana cream pies had to be "discarded" at the end of each night. Let's just say that we made sure they always found happy homes . ;)

[Soo @ hungryones]

Mmm... Those are my 2 fav spots to go for chicken pot pie. :-)

[caninecologne]

I haven't been to the Chicken Pie Shop yet. I believe it used to be in Hillcrest before the move. I love the crust on the pot pies at Marie Callenders. Their berry pies are also great.

[Cathy]

How cool, JanFrederick, you have been a part of history! We used to enjoy being recipients of discards from friends, but never were so fortunate as to have friends from Marie's. Banana cream pie was our alternate choice!

Nothing better, Soo. There are some places which have their own versions, but those aren't the same...classic recipes and familiar eating spaces combine perfectly.

Yes, cc the original location was on Robinson at Fifth (it's now a Starbucks)and we went to it when the pie dinner (everything, including dessert) was $3.10; now it's $8.99 (and the pie dinner still gets to your table in a flash-you can't order and run to the restroom and get back before it's there). It's classic San Diego (to me) and just good, simple food. Every single one of Marie's dessert pies is so very good!

[Kirk]

The open face hot turkey sandwich always brings back childhood memories for me Cathy.

[Cathy]

Me too, Kirk. It's true comfort.