Growing up in Georgia, there were two fundamental truths that we lived by: God is great, and pies are delicious. Almost everyone can remember their grandma’s pecan pies, or their cousins bringing over pumpkin pies for family gatherings. To fill the pie-shaped hole in our college student diets, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has come to Johnson City, bringing with it all the pie flavors we remember so fondly.
Buttermilk Sky originated in Knoxville, but has recently opened a shop at 3135 People’s Street in Johnson City. The new location is a little small, being in the same shopping center as Barberito’s, but the interior is nice and cozy, with a distinct country flair. The pies are all lined up both on the counter and behind a glass display case, with hand written notes giving each pastry a name. Walking in, you can see right into the kitchen, where the chefs pour over their work with a clear passion.
The pies look great, but it would all be for nothing if they didn’t taste good. I asked the cashier what the “quintessential Buttermilk Sky pie” is, and she directed me to the I-40 pie. Named after the road that runs from Knoxville to Asheville, the I-40 is almost like a mish-mash of all our favorite childhood pies, with pecans, chocolate chips and a bit of toasted coconut on top. I selected a four-inch mini I-40 pie, which cost me $4.30, and dug in.
The I-40 tastes exactly like you hope it would, somehow bringing back all the memories of pecan or chocolate pie from your childhood. I wasn’t sure how pecan and chocolate chips would work together, but it was delicious, with a good crispy crust and filling that didn’t ooze out after every bite. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t quite finish the entire mini pie, but two people splitting it would have no trouble finishing the whole thing.
Buttermilk Sky has more than just pies, however; they offer cookies in a variety of flavors, and you can also get some tea or coffee to go along with your dessert. The menu is not very crowded, being limited to only pies and cookies, but that’s really all it needs. You can order pies for an event, you can bring a date by for a quick mini pie–the buttermilk sky is the limit.
Not many restaurants are confident enough to base their entire menu around one or two items, but Buttermilk Sky Pie has no qualms about playing to their strengths. If you’re in the mood for some tasty homestyle pie, Buttermilk Sky is the place to be.