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@bgruber

Thanks to SeriousEats convenient comment subscriptions, I get comments forwarded to my inbox, so yep. Still reading them.

As for the answer... em... because Cook's Illustrated readers like their salmon more well-done than I do?

shh... don't tell Chris!

Delicious Orchards pies have always been very good, but not exactly convienient to NYC. One of the best pies in NYC is without a doubt the ones from The Little Pie Company of NYC. They've gone up in price quite a bit in the last two years, and their satelite store in Grand Central is no more, but that shouldn't dissuade you from braving mid-town. (Their sour cherry is to die for!)

There are some other excellent pies as well, such as the one's from Two Little Red Hens on the UES in the 80's, and the Lexington Candy Shop nearby also has a very good ones, but their's has to be ordered ahead of time as they come from a bakery in Southampton. Of course one can always go to Payard for a Tarte Tatain...$$$

I love those microwavable chicken pot pies that come in the paper pie pan. I mean...they aren't the most terrific chicken pot pies by a long shot, but in college when my dorm had one kitchen and I had a microwave in my room, it was pretty good for a random snack. Ah nostalgia.

I've heard Marie Callendar's generally tries very hard to get their frozen stuff to be close as possible to the stuff made in their restaurants. So I'm not surprised they beat out the other "classics" but perhaps a little surprised about the other pies (but not so much after your descriptions).

@downhillguru: Not microwaved. It's actually baked for 45ish minutes in the oven just like the rest of them, but it might as well be zapped in the microwave, since either way it tastes like a dead pie.

EVERYTHING Marie Callender's makes is delicious! I love most of her frozen entrees. Haven't tried the pie yet but I'm not surprised...her frozen foods are some of the best out there!

I had not bought a frozen pie in years, and the last time I did it seems like the Mrs. Smith's brand was considered to be pretty good. Well, I bought one last week (apple) and it was TERRIBLE! Worst pie I have ever tasted. In fact, we threw it out it was that bad. As the taste-testers above said, the crust was gummy (it really is taste-less, like cardboard). Also, the filling tastes really artificial. So . . . I'll try the MC brand next time. Although for a quick-to-make pie, those refrigerated Pillsbury piecrusts are the best of their type. Okay, okay, I know it's not as good as homemade, but it's better than any of the other pre-made crusts. And it really doesnt take long to mix up some fruit with a bit of tapioca and throw it in to bake. But it's good to know you can have something in the freezer that won't gag people, just in case.

@Erin Zimmer - the Paula Deen pie is an exclusive at WalMart. Food Network Humor has a great mashup of public reaction to said pie. I haven't seen/tried it, but I understood it to be a bakery item, not frozen.

@erin zimmer: only wal-mart carries paula deen pies. no joke.

Perhaps it would have been okay if you had just asked her not to slice it. Then done it yourself.

That is really bizarre. I suppose they eat the extra slivers themselves. I can't imagine what else they might do. Maybe collect enough slivers to start making full slices? Yeah right.

Chef Pierre brand Apple Cranberry pie is the most glorious. test it!

I've heard horrifying things about Paula Dean's frozen apple pie. Like it not being even remotely fully cooked after following package instructions. Yuck.

@feep: agreed on the fried versus baked McDonalds apple pie. For reference, Popeye's Chicken also fries their apple pie.