Some of you may have heard of or seen these around, and if not then just wait because they are slowly spreading across the internet. I can only speculate that this growth is due to their 'cuteness' factor. Just look at one of the more popular sites out there on the subject, and you'll see what I'm talking about. Pretty disgusting, right? It's true... these pies represent a horribly evil cuteness... a cuteness so perfectly sinister in its rustic adorableness that it threatens to overturn the cupcake's long and undeserved reign. Just one of these little fruit-filled pies baked off and re-capped with a little ribbon tied around it and a sticker label with the likes of 'from the kitchen of Doris (or whomever)' can make a pink frosted passionfruit cupcake look like man's tailgating food. A truly scary thought, but it's out there.
So, what about savory pies? A pinch more masculinity at least.
Chicken & Zellwood corn pot pies
So then... why jump on this bandwagon of frilly lacey cuteness. The appeal for us is more of a functional one. These little 4oz Ball Mason jars are the perfect size for a multi-course menu. One of the big logistical problems with putting on dinners 'on the road' is plateware and serviceware (which if either purchased or rented can become a major expense and hassle to clean and travel with). Using a small mason jar (purchased at around $0.50 a piece) solves this problem for an entire course. They're easy to reheat and serve in a self contained vessel... hell, you could even screw the caps back on once cooled for safer traveling. The 4oz jar also ended up being the perfect portion size and maintained a balanced ratio of crust to filling so that even the last bite had that ideal little bit of textural crispness.
Also, the nature of the pot pie itself opens the door to a world of possible ingredients within a wide range of perceived values. They can be upscale, downscale, yet still retain their appeal as comforting southern-style food (which is suddenly becoming the most popular thing on the planet... about time). My next hope is that cajun food will enjoy a resurgence (ball jar crawfish pot pies?). Actually my hope is that this resurgence will be based on REAL cajun cuisine and slowly abolish all previous notions this country has had about cajun food... then maybe we can bury that dead blackened fish forever (and no more McDonald's style cajun chicken sandwiches). It will happen. You will see.