"Make Room For Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State" with Kat Robinson
In 2018, "Make Room for Pie" received a Regional Emmy Nomination from The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Mid-America Chapter.
"Make Room for Pie" is the story of Arkansas, told through a diverse and eclectic batch of pie bakers, from the Delta to the Ozark Mountains. Author Kat Robinson takes viewers on a delicious tour of old time diners and off-the-beaten-path cafes, where pies are created with love and sweet perfection.
"This special provides the chance to recognize many of the underrated piemakers who create these humble yet delectable masterpieces, while sharing so much of what's great about The Natural State," Robinson said. "We have a lot of dishes that are specific to Arkansas - fried pickles, brown gravy with rice, cheese dip, biscuits with chocolate gravy.
"Pie is our common denominator. Every part of our state has whole and sliced pie, fried pies - this dessert that isn't just on our sideboard but by the cash register at our local truck stop or on the counter at the nearest lunchroom. Having that sort of saturation around the state provides a canvas for a deeper narrative about who we are and all these wonders that surround us, a common language that both promotes us from the outside and connects us within our borders as well."
Thank You For Your Support!
If you enjoy this program, please consider becoming a member of the Arkansas PBS Foundation. As a thank you gift for your donation, you will be able to choose from a "Make Room For Pie" DVD, Kat Robinson's "Another Slice of Arkansas Pie" book, a PBS Nerd Apron, or all three depending on the amount given.
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Go On A Pie Pilgrimage
Go on a delicious adventure pilgrimage across The Natural State to sample the best pies Arkansas has to offer.
Download MapRestaurants and bakeries highlighted in the film include:
- Charlotte's Eats & Sweets 290 Main, Keo, AR, 72083
- Big John's(Tacker's Shake Shack) 409 Military Rd., Marion, AR, 72364
- Lindsey's Hospitality House 207 Curtis Sykes Dr., North Little Rock, AR, 72114
- Honey Pies 315 N. Bowman Rd., Ste. 14, Little Rock, AR, 72211
- Ed Walker's Drive-In/Miss Anna's 1500 Towson Ave., Fort Smith, AR, 72901
- Sweet Treats Sandwich & Pie Shop 5 E. Main St., Lamar, AR, 72846
- Hillbilly Hideout 3203 Pence Ln., Ozark, AR, 72949
- PattiCakes Bakery 2106 Robinson Ave., Conway, AR, 72034
- Shangri-La Resort 987 Shangri-La Dr., Mount Ida, AR, 71957
- Mr. & Mrs. Chef 121 Orange St., Hot Springs, AR, 71913
- The Skillet Restaurant 1032 Park Ave., Mountain View, AR, 72560
- Batten's Donuts & Bakery 1725 Paragould Plz., Paragould, AR, 72450
- Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales & Pies 714 Saint Mary St., Lake Village, AR, 71653
- The Backyard B-B-Q Co. 1407 E. Main St., Magnolia, AR, 71753
- Grandma's House Café 21588 US-71, Winslow, AR, 72959
- The Wooden Spoon 1000 S. Gentry Blvd., Gentry, AR, 72734
Meet The Filmmakers
Kat Robinson
Kat Robinson is a food and travel writer based in Little Rock. She travels Arkansas and the South searching for good stories, tall tales and the next great little restaurant.
In addition to her website "Tie Dye Travels," Robinson has written three books - "Classic Eateries of the Arkansas Delta" (American Palate, a Division of the History Press, 2014), "Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley" (American Palate, a Division of the History Press, 2013) and "Arkansas Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State" (American Palate, a Division of the History Press, 2012). Robinson also currently writes for Food Network and AY Magazine.
"The film captures the cultural diversity of our state and there are lots of fun facts sprinkled throughout."
Larry Foley
Veteran broadcast journalist, educator and documentary filmmaker Larry Foley is professor and chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas.
Foley's films have earned seven Mid-America Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and 19 Emmy nominations in writing, journalistic enterprise, history, cultural history, special program and community service. His films have also received four Best of Festival of Media Arts awards from the international Broadcast Education Association.
"'Make Room for Pie' was lots of fun to produce and direct," producer Larry Foley said. "We traveled all across Arkansas to an eclectic collection of cafes and bakeries, and the pies along the way were all, as Kat says, 'to die for.'
