i googled "best pie in the universe ever" and this is what came back

the best pie in the universe is what.... a coconut meringue pie?

I THINK NOT!

I have a SERIOUS bone to pick with the universe.

To me the best pie in the universe would only involve coconut in its milky form. Like, I wonder what would happen if you added coconut milk to a pie crust instead of water.

And then I would reckon an unparalleled pie would have to involve some amazingly succulent fruit, perhaps strawberries from Mt. Olympus. Or the blueberries I bought from the Champaign-Urbana farmers market in the summer of 1998. They were as big as grapes. *shiver* Or if there was a way to have raspberries and blackberries without their seeds and add a touch of orange zest.

And I could definitely polish off the entirety of my mom's lemon meringue pie.

I need to go content myself with some pudding.

I'm with Sinker: how is it possible that the Best Pie in the Universe is not only NOT a 2-crust fruit pie but ALSO covered in icky meringue?

The Best Pie in MY Universe might have to be the Platonic ideal of a peach pie, for while a good peach pie can make you believe that everything is going be alright (and is attendantly rare), a mediocre peach pie can make one think that peaches aren't really all that. Which they can be but often are not. Or maybe a sour cherry pie, well made by someone who is not me, with my pie crust ineptitude. Nope, I'm more of a cobbler person, and cobbler is the lazy (or hot-weather) person's pie.

And came up with this:

Add me to the coconut-meringue pie doubters.
The best pie in the universe is quite obviously Olallieberry Pie (warning: Wikipedia error-ollalieberries are found in NORTHERN California, not the festering hole that is SO-CAL!)

Paul, you dare to forward a best pie in the universe without bringin' me one?

and nobody said it WAS the best pie, really, except google. I'm partial to the chocolate cashewnutbutter, as my adherents will already know.

but it seems there's really only one way to resolve this. a little thing called PIE OFF.

who dares to enter this contest of amazement?

...I am intrigued by your challenge.

Unfortunately, the best pie/ingredients must be brought back from Santa Cruz.

HOWEVER...

I will be going there to visit very soon.

a pie-related discussion is no time for fence-sitting. it's time to be a man, paul m. davis.

Oh can it people with these snobby-berry pies or whatever. For BEST pies you need to look at SATISFYING pies.

While I don't like picking favorites, I would have to say that strawberry rhubarb's tart, sugary mouth explosions ranks it high.

This one looks a hot mess, but I bet it's amazing.

Point: one cannot pick a BEST pie, but if they had to, it's probably universally strawberry rhubarb.

Alamode preferably, even though that gives me gas so...dutch oven!

the best pie in the universe is what.... a coconut meringue pie?

I THINK NOT!

I have a SERIOUS bone to pick with the universe.

I'm in agreement with Sinker on this.

Also, the best pies are not "cream" pies. Rather, they are those which contain whole fruit and their juices...especially any varietal containing berries.

Woah. The milky portions on the top crust remind me of the sugary crusty bits on a Hostess fruit pie. Mmmm. Hostess (and other generic brands) fruit pies are on my Secret Shame list of best pie ever. There, I've said it and I won't take it back.

Pumpkin pie FTW, yo.

Are we completely sure you're not me?

mmmmm....hot mess....

Hostess-sized, strawberry rhubarb fruit pies are the BEST pie thing idea ever. Or at least of the week.

praytell, what are thse ingredients you speak of? Essence of surfer or beach bunny or something?

Well, you're better lookin'.

inexplicably, whenever i am reviewing pies at any pie-making establishment (regardless of the geographic location within the US) when i ask the server or counterperson what they think is the best pie they sell (i.e. which one should i review), they always ALWAYS say "well, the coconut cream pie is the most popular..."

i should caveat that the pie MAKER is rarely the person making this recommendation. And the pie MAKER, if I have the chance to talk to them, never suggests the coconut cream pie.

this strange phenomenon has led me to understand that much like with music, art, film, literature or anything else, the average American really just wants bland, safe, non-threatening, pasty white goo.

life sucks live and let live deal and just screw it i hate coconut and i also hate mirangue is the world out to make my life miserable next you should search the best candy bar in the universe

Is the Ollalieberry, which for some reason is only found in Northern California.

Also, a dash of what is known there as "tranny (transplant, i.e. out-of-towner, not transsexual) kook (self-explanatory)"

Is someone engaging in some pie astroturfing here?

I am way late to jump on this conversation, but I'd have to agree with others about coconut cream pie NOT being the best pie in the world.

When I was home for the holidays my mom taught me how to make a dutch apple pie that was pretty fantastic. I'll bake one for the next time I come in...

***
GO TEAM INTERN!!!

"When I was home for the holidays my mom taught me how to make a dutch apple pie that was pretty fantastic. I'll bake one for the next time I come in..."

this is how one refutes the deliciousness of other pies, people.

Thank you, Kira, for injecting some sanity into this debate.

Is the Ollalieberry...I've neither had, nor heard of those...however, I want some. Ollalieberry factoids.

Which apple varietal did you use? Also, please, please please tell me that you used BUTTER to make the crust.