If you’re a fan of Oprah Winfrey, you likely know that she comes out with a list of her favorite things every year and releases it in O Magazine.
For those who follow this annual list, the Centerville Pie Company might sound familiar, and that’s because it has made the cut three times: 2009, 2012, and 2017.
Simply put, Oprah loves this Cape Cod original, which is located at 1671 Falmouth Road in Centerville, Massachusetts, and wants everyone to know just how good their products taste.
Make sure you stop by the Centerville Pie Company and take one of their creations back to your Cape Cod vacation rental. Just one bite and you’ll discover why Oprah just can’t get enough of these local favorites.
About the Bakery
From the outside, the Centerville Pie Company doesn’t look like much. After all, it’s just a small bakery sitting in a small strip mall across from the street from the Centerville Shopping Center in the heart of the village.
If you’re not explicitly looking for this bakery, you’d surely miss it, as there’s nothing that stands out or makes it an obvious attraction.
The Centerville Pie Company has been like this ever since friends Laurie Bowen and Kristin Broadley opened the shop in 2009. At that time, the two of them just wanted to operate a small shop where they could sell their creations to Cape Cod residents and hopefully make a living.
The operation was modest, as they could only bake 12 pies at a time, but that was plenty of capacity to serve their local clientele.
Their first year in business was a memorable one, however, as an encounter with a global superstar changed their lives forever.
How the Centerville Pie Company Became Famous
So, how did the chicken pie at Centerville Pie Company end up being one of Oprah’s favorite things?
It all started in 2009 when rumors suggested that Oprah was on Cape Cod to attend the funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and spending her time at a local inn. Broadley got wind of Oprah’s location and decided to drop a couple of pies – peach and chicken – off for her, leaving a note with her home phone number, as well.
By the time Broadley had returned home, Oprah had already called, gushing about the pies and wanting more. In the days following, Gayle King, Oprah’s best friend, ordered more pies for them to take on their flight home.
Later that year, the Centerville Pie Company made Oprah’s list for the first time, but the wild ride wasn’t over. In 2010, Bowen and Broadley made an appearance during the final season of Oprah’s show, leading to them selling 280,000 pies in just 15 minutes.
In 2011, the Centerville Pie Company was asked to hand out swag bags at the Golden Globe Awards, which involved giving slices of pie out at the event, in addition to coupons for free pies from their bakery.
Actors and actresses like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, and Eric McCormack loved the pies, and every celebrity who took a coupon redeemed it for a free pie.
Centerville Pie Company remains popular in celebrity circles, and the outstanding quality of these creations keeps visitors and locals alike returning time after time.
What on the Menu?
When you think of pie, dessert is probably the first thing that comes to mind, and the Centerville Pie Company has an abundance of sweet products.
First, there are the fruit pies, which come in blueberry, all berry, apple, cranapple, cherry, peach, strawberry rhubarb, and pumpkin varieties. There are also pecan, chocolate chip, key lime, and lemon meringue pies on the menu.
For cream pies, the bakery has chocolate, coconut, banana, lemon, and Cape Cod crunch, which is chocolate mixed with butter coffee, in addition to custard and coconut custard options.
It’s not all about the sweets at the Centerville Pie Company, however, as their savory options are excellent, and the large pies can serve up to six people.
We’ve mentioned the famous chicken pie, but the bakery also carries braised beef, clam, shepherd’s, sweet potato, BBQ pulled pork, buffalo chicken, French meat, and lobster pies. There’s also a vegetarian option, with their spinach and feta pie.
Beyond pies, you’ll also find Lorraine, spinach and feta, and ham and cheese quiches for order, and if you have a different combination of ingredients you’d like in your quiche, just ask and they’ll make it for you.
If you grab a frozen pie, you’ll have to heat it for about an hour before dinner, which is convenient if you pick up a pie in the morning and want to eat it after a long day spent exploring Cape Cod’s attractions.
Give Them a Visit
The Centerville Pie Company offers a taste that is unique to Cape Cod and is well worth a stop during your vacation. Whether you’re searching for dessert or a full meal, check out their selection, and you won’t be disappointed, no matter what you choose.
Centerville, Massachusetts, has something for everyone, thanks to its beaches, history, restaurants, and culture. It also has perhaps the best pie anywhere on the Cape, which you can pick up at the Centerville Pie Company.