THE LIFE OF PIE: NORSKE NOOK

THE LIFE OF PIE: NORSKE NOOK

WHERE: Osseo, WI

WHAT: Norske Nook bakery and restaurant

DATE: April 6th, 2017

ADDRESS: 13804-7th Street, Osseo, WI 54758

WEBSITE: https://norskenook.com

CHEF: ??

OFFERS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

SERVICE: Sit down

PRICE RANGE: $ - $$

PIG SCORE: 3.9 / 4.0

WHAT TO GET: Pies, pies, pies, One of the award winning pies

Does pie get a bad rap? Quoting late comedian Jim Gaffigan, “Pie just can’t compete with cake, you put candles in a cake and you have a birthday party, you put candles in a pie, and someone is drunk in the kitchen.” So what, pie doesn’t get the same love that cake does, but I still appreciate a great slice of homemade bliss when it’s in front of me. I don’t think I’m alone on this. As national pie day passed (March 14th or 3.14) I was reminded of a place that surprised me. A place that changed my thoughts on the fruit filled pastry. A place that may have the best pie in America: Norske Nook, which is a little Scandinavian bakery and restaurant located off of I-94 in Osseo, Wisconsin. This cafe is in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. If you blink when driving through you will miss it, but Osseo is home to pie Nirvana. Eating at Norskie’s was like finding Aunt Bea’s long lost Scandinavian pie making half-sister.

While most of us are sleeping off the damage of the night before, the Nookies (that’s what I’m calling the workers) are elbow deep in pie dough and fruit carcasses. Before I’ve even hit the snooze button for the fourth time, they are finishing the award winning scratch fillings for the blinds. Oh did I fail to mention that they are the reigning national champions of pie in like hundreds of categories? Pumpkin, cream, chocolate mint and blueberry you name it, they make it and are probably the Champs for it too. This little, off the beaten path restaurant is a hidden gem and the residents of this part of Wisconsin are keeping the best pie in America a secret, damn selfish Osseoians!

THE LIST OF NORSKE NOOK LONG LINE OF NATIONAL PIE CHAMPIONS:

Peaches and Cream
Lemon Cream Cheese
Jamberry
Mounds Coconut
Apple Cream Cheese
Northwoods Root Beer Float
Pecan Fudge
Orange Dreamsicle
Pecan Stout
Baked Strawberry Peach
Banana Cream
Pecan Cream Cheese
Blueberry Pecan Stout
Blueberry Cream Cheese
Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Blueberry Crunch
Raisin Bread Pudding
Chocolate Mousse
Raspberry Cream Cheese
Butterfinger
Raspberry Peach Melba
Coconut Pineapple Dream
Raspberry White Chocolate
Chocolate Mint
Snickers Caramel
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Strawberry Cream Cheese
Cookies and Cream
Strawberry White Chocolate
Custard Sugar Free Peach
Lingonberry Apple Cream Cheese
Kaffe Mocha
Maple Raisin
Sour Cream Raisin
Raspberry cream cheese

The Nook has been around since the 70’s and has turned this thimble of a town into a national pie powerhouse and possibly an international pie destination. If you’re on I-94 between Minneapolis and Milwaukee or if you somehow find yourself within 40 miles of Osseo, do yourself a favor make the detour, GET THE PIE, have a cup of coffee or two as you live the small town life in Osseo and eat like a local.

The Pig is formally trained in the culinary arts, a graduate of the C.I.A., worked in the food industry for over 40 years and currently travels the country as a research chef searching food trucks, street vendors, little restaurants and hole in the walls seeking out the best this country has to offer. For more great articles, culinary travel guides, and tips on travel and cooking follow us to our website. www.pigspick.com