Allison Kave pauses, leaning in closer, as if what she's about to reveal could be her downfall.
"I'm not a big pie person."
The admission is the kind of thing you throw out on a first date, during a flirty post-dinner debate about what to order for dessert. But for a baker who's made a name for herself as one of New York City's top pie makers, it's kind of a bold statement.
BUY NOW: Butter & Scotch S'mores Pie, $40; foodydirect.com
"It's my favorite dessert to make, without question!" she says, laughing, trying soften the blow. "It takes a lot of patience and focus. I really think of it as zen." Kave is one half of the brains behind Butter & Scotch, a bakery-meets-cocktail bar she opened with fellow baker Keavy Landreth in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood.
The two had separate businesses before joining forces: Kave's was called First Prize Pies and Landreth's was Kumquat Cupcakery. "We had both hit that point of wanting to grow and move on," Kave remembers. "I had been moonlighting as a bartender for a decade at that point, and after like two pitchers of sangria, we came up with this idea to open a bar and bakery." The name Butter & Scotch was their way of paying equal homage to both parts of the new venture.
The tiny spot is nearing its third anniversary, and desserts have emerged as favorites — namely, the S'mores Pie. Kave didn't overcomplicate things like pastry chefs are sometimes wont to do. The only components are the ones you'd find in the classic treat: graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow. Of course, they've got a slightly chef-y spin; Kave's an award-winning pie baker, after all. She makes both the graham crackers and marshmallow fluff in-house.
The pie is indulgent on its own, but to really regret your decisions the next morning, try it blended into a milkshake. "It's our version of a Blizzard," Kave says. Luckily, there's a full bar of booze on hand, so you can drink away your sins.
*Not in New York? You can find the recipe in Kave's cookbook, First Prize Pies.
BUY IT NOW: First Prize Pies, $30; butterandscotch.com
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