The cherry pie simply smells delicious.  Out of the box, it is definitely one of the more fragrant Royers pies.  I must admit that prior to reviewing the cherry pie from the Royers, I was not a big fan of cherry pies in general.  They've always been way too tangy or sweet with the crust collapsed inward.  As a result, I never saw the point.  The cherry pie in this case is not too tangy and not too sweet, but just right.  The crust maintains its flakiness and crispness despite being in contact with a semi-liquid filling.  The result is a cherry pie that not only smells, but tastes as good as it looks.  The addictive tendencies of such a well balanced flavor combination are obvious as the Royers cherry pie has quickly become one of my favorites. 

"Glorious" is the term that one foodie used to describe Royers Not My Mom's Apple Pie.  Each slice reveals thinly sliced Granny Smith apples reveling in a cinnamon and brown sugar-based sauce.  The crust stands firm and coexists perfectly with the ingredients.  As with all of the Royers pies, the Not My Mom's Apple Pie shares the common trait of finding that perfect balance of flavor elements.  The pies are not too much in any one direction.  This is something that is obvious with each bite.

For a change of pace, the buttermilk pie brings a creamy sweetness to the table.  A pie that can truly be called refreshing, the buttermilk pie is best served cold.  A bit lighter than cheesecake and somewhere in between the consistency of pumpkin pie and pecan pie, the creamy goodness of the buttermilk filling will make it difficult to stop at one bite.  Diets be damned.  If you're gonna start, might as well finish when it's this good.

It doesn't get more Texas than pecan pie.  This is the golden standard upon which most will judge the Royers on.  The Ann's Pecan blends buttery pecan halves nestle atop a sugary filling that gives the pecans instant flavor boost.  The filling abides by the Royers golden standard of keeping the flavors in line with each other and serves to meld the flavor of the pecans with the delicious crust while serving to give a well rounded sweetness to the combination.  Unlike many pecan pies where the sweetness is so overwhelming that you feel a dryness at the back of your throat, Ann's Pecan carefully balances the sweet and buttery elements with the flavors of the pecan.   

Like its kissing cousin the cherry, the peach pie takes nearly three pounds of peaches and marinates them under a lattice crust to eke out every last bit of flavor.  The flaky crisp crust serves to accentuate the soft mellowness of the peach slices while the delicate syrup binds the flavors together.  For some reason, peach pies are far less common than apple pies in general.  Often, one has to search high and low to even find it on the menu.  It is a good thing then that this peach pie does not disappoint. 

The Strawberry Rhubarb is a mountainous pie topped with a crunchy granola coating.  The granola provides an excellent complement to the tanginess of the strawberry rhubarb blend.  Like many cherry pies, most strawberry rhubarb pies are overwhelmingly tangy.  Often, little can be tasted other than the tanginess of the pies.  Contrary to the norm, the Royers rendition allow the flavor of the strawberries to be accentuated by the rhubarb while keeping the tanginess in check.  At the same time, the sweetness is finely balanced with the butteriness of the granola crust.

I know that all this talk of pies must be torture for some.  Fear not dear readers for all hope is not lost.  For those living away from central Texas Pies are available via mail-order from both the Coopers and Royers Market and the original location in Round Top.  Pies can be ordered and shipped directly from Round Top at the Royers Round Top Cafe Web Site  - http://www.royersroundtopcafe.com/Pies.htm  In Austin, orders can be made simply by calling the Coopers and Royers market at 467-6700.  The pies are perfect to ship to far away friends and family and give them a little taste of home.  They'll appreciate it during the Holidays... 

The Coopers and Royers Market provides Austin with an exciting new option both in dining and desserts.  It is hard to find fault with most of the entrees.  The bold flavors might be strong when taken out of context, but when combined with other items on the menu, blend perfectly.  The focus on quality and flavor is immediately obvious with each bite.  Likewise, the pies stand as a proud testament as to why the Royers are famous around the state for their baking.  These are people who truly know, respect, and understand their food.  In a city of bland, they unabashedly stand out in pursuit of flavor. 

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