By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Nov 23, 2015 at 10:09 AM

Milwaukeeans already know that some of the best pies you can eat come from Honeypie Cafe, 2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. But, an article published at Timeout.com shows that the word is spreading.

The news come just in time for Thanksgiving as Patty Lee and the Time Out editors have named Honeypie Cafe’s black bottom banana cream pie as one of 17 of the best pies in the nation.

The article features the deliciously decadent Honeypie creation as the cover photo for the article. And Time Out gives a special shout-out to Honeypie co-owner Valeri Lucks – who we featured in 2014 – for her technique in creating this pie masterpiece.

"To form her luscious homage to old-fashioned black-bottomed pies, baking guru Valeri Lucks marries two of her bestsellers, layering chocolate and banana custards – both made with Wisconsin milk – atop a crisp graham cracker crust. She crowns the glorious affair with a mound of fresh whipped cream, which every pie-lover knows is an essential addition."

The inclusion is quite the honor for our hometown cafe, which is listed among both big names like Momofuku Milk Bar and hidden gems like the Pie Shop in Atlanta.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.