The "Paducah Pie" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just got back from Central Market in downtown Lancaster, PA with my Paducah pie. Took my friends Jerry and Just Sue with me to market. They are visiting with us, since tonight is our 50th High School class reunion. Yesterday I went to market to buy a pie for dessert for our lunch today and they were sold out of Paducah pies. Probably because there was a big article in the paper a few days ago about the guy who makes the pies. They are made by Glenn Tanner who is from Paducah, Kentucky and who used his great-great grandmother's recipe, tweaked it a little, and developed the Paducah pie. While on market yesterday, I first walked in and searched for the stand that sells the pies. No luck, so I stopped for some lunch meat for the weekend and asked the clerk where I might find the stand that sells the Paducah pies. The lady standing next to me waiting for her lunch meat holds up this little thing in front of her and says, "Like this?" After looking at it I replied, "Are they that small?" I'm talking about the pie now! I had never seen a Paducah pie and had no idea what it looked like except for the photo that was in the local paper. And the pie she showed me fit into the palm of her hand. Then she went on to tell me where the stand was and if I ever get to try one, it will be my all-time favorite pie. Well, I got my lunch meat and headed to Ric's Bread which is in the middle of the market. Asked for a Paducah pie and was told they were all gone. Seems the lady I talked with bought the last one. I inquired about getting one tomorrow and the clerk said she wasn't sure if they were getting any. "Can I order one?" I asked. She made a phone call, looked at me and asked, "Do you want a small one or a large one?" Figuring the one I already saw was a small one I said, "A large one." After being told it would be ready by 10:00 AM tomorrow, I finished my shopping and left. Well, the pie looks good. Looks like it has a graham cracker crust. According to the newspaper it's not a fruit pie, cream pie, custard or flan. It's buttery and citrusy, moist yet crumbly, light but also rich, and has been described by foodies as a better lemon bar, sugar cookie in a crust or eggnog custard. My wife said it looks something like the Montgomery pies she used to make. Well, we all had a piece for lunch. We all had different opinions about the taste of the pie. I thought it tasted very much like a lemon bar. As to if it will be my all-time favorite, there are still two pieces left in the fridge and they might be there for quite some time! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - top photo was taken by Richard Hertzler from the Lancaster newspaper.