Boston Ma Edition: Omni Parker House
What kind of food is Boston known for? Well, it of course has the New England influence with clam chowder, fish and chips, baked beans, lobster , and clams. But think about it BOSTON cream pie!A Boston cream pie is a cake filled with custard/cream and then frosted with chocolate. Not so much of a pie and more of a cake. It was created at the Parker House Hotel , which is also the home of Parker House Rolls and Boston Scrod.
Owners of the Parker House Hotel in Boston state that the Boston cream pie was first created at the hotel by Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian in 1856. The cake he created, called Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie, consisted of two layers of French butter sponge cake filled with crème pâtissière and brushed with a rum syrup, its side coated with crème pâtissière overlain with toasted sliced almonds, and the top coated with chocolate fondant.
Grade: A
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Best Boston Cream Pie
- Downtown
- price 3 of 4
The Omni Parker House Hotel is one of the most historic in the city. It was here, at Parkers Restaurant, where the Boston cream pie was born. This creamy, delicious traditional version consists of a light sponge cake filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate. Walk off the calorites by checking out the hotels historic environs and interesting memorabilia.
- South End
- price 2 of 4
Joanne Changs beloved spot for pastries and baked goods offers a delicious, artfully-crafted version of the Boston cream pie. Layers of fluffy yellow cake and vanilla cream are toppped with a smooth chocolate ganache and coffee syrup.
- North End
- price 1 of 4
Bovas opened in the North End in 1932 and has remained a family-owned business all these years. Their Boston cream pie is a richer version, made with both vanilla and chocolate cream, and topped with a thick ganache. Best of all, Bovas is open 24 hours, perfect for a late-night cream pie craving.
- Seaport District
- price 2 of 4
As the flagship location within the iconic Legal Sea Foods empire, Legal Harborside offers three floors of different dining experiences, all with sweeping views of Boston Harbor. Choose the first floor dining room for a bustling, casual, and classic seafood experience that includes a near-classic version of the Boston cream pie featuring custard, yellow sponge cake and rich bittersweet chocolate.
- North End
- price 1 of 4
- North End
- price 1 of 4
- Central Sq
- price 2 of 4
Best Place To Get Boston Cream Pie Desserts :
Where are the best places to get the absolute best Boston cream pie dessertswhether it be pie, cupcakes, donuts, etc. And which part of Boston is it located in?
I dont know whats best but if it were me Id go where it was invented and thats the Parker House.
As long as I can do take out pie. Im traveling alone and that place is too fancy to eat alone in
Omni Parker House is where it originated.
The restaurant at the Parker House isnt really that fancy, so eating there as a single really isnt a big deal. But Im sure they will wrap up a slice of the pie to take out for you.
Im pretty sure the Food Court and Quincy market place, or whatever its official name is, would have a place or two if you want a walk up counter type place. If youre doing typical tourist things youd probably want to go there anyway.
You dont get a slice when you get the Boston Cream Pie at the Parker House. You actually get your own individual little Boston Cream Pie.
Edited: 4 years ago
The restaurant at the Parker House isnt really that fancy, so eating there as a single really isnt a big deal
You can actually get it at the store at the Omni Parker House without eating at the restaurant.
You could also get it at Parkers Bar in the hotel.
Not that it matter or to imply you shouldnt go on this quest but FYI, OP, Boston Cream Pie isnt really a thing in Boston much beyond places that get a lot of tourists and know theyll be looking for it.
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Yucky Boston Cream Pie
We went to eat at the Omni Parker House because its famous for being the origin of the Boston Cream Pie and got a shock: turns out they offer the original recipe and the original recipe isnt as good as typical current BCP and its got nuts all over it. Yuk.More
We are sorry you were disappointed with our famous and originial Boston Crème Pie. However, we understand that not everyone enjoys the same things, so we hope that you may come back so that you may try our many other fine entrees and delicious desserts served in Parkers Restaurant, Parkers Bar and The Last Hurrah. Whether you are looking for a peaceful fine dining experience or a more relaxed atmosphere, we have the perfect ambiance for you. The Parker House is proud to be celebrating a rich culinary tradition since 1855 and we are proud continue to offer a menu that we believe can appeal to everyone tastes. We look forward to seeing you again!
2.1 miles
- Trip type: Traveled with family
- Value
How To Make Sponge Cake
Sponge Cakes rely on whipped eggs to give them lift and structure. The cakes are perfect for this Boston Cream Pie recipe. You will need two, 8-inch round cake pans that have been sprayed with nonstick spray or prepared with GOOP. In addition, line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together both kinds of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Next, in a microwave-safe bowl, add the milk and butter. Heat until the butter has melted , and then add the vanilla. Cover the bowl to keep warm.
Meanwhile, separate three eggs. To the bowl of a stand mixer, add the three egg whites only. To the bowl of just egg yolks, add the other two whole eggs. Set that bowl aside. At low speed, beat the egg whites until foamy. Increase the speed to medium and gradually add 6 tablespoons of sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Transfer the beaten eggs to a large bowl.
Now, it is the egg yolks with whole eggs mixture to be mixed in the bowl of the stand mixer. So, add the eggs to the stand mixer, along with the remaining 6 tablespoons of sugar. Mix on medium-high speed until the eggs are thick . Add these eggs to the bowl with the beaten egg whites mixture.
Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture. Gently fold in the flour mixture about 12 times with a rubber spatula, or until mostly combined. Make a well in the batter. Pour the melted butter and milk mixture into the well. Gently fold with the spatula until no trace of flour is remaining.
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Boston Cream Pie At Parker House To Go
Does anyone know if we can just get a serving of Boston Cream Pie at the Parker House without having to do the fine-dining in the restaurant? We will only be in Boston for a few days and there are so many food places on our list that were trying to avoid having to eat a big meal at Parker House and stuffing ourselves silly. Does just going for dessert look ridiculous? I thought of the Last Hurrah Bar thats at Parker House but we dont drink so I was trying to avoid ordering only pie and water there. Such a dilemma.
The Last Hurrah does serve food and there is no requirement that you consume alcohol there so you do not have to indulge or drink water. Many people look ridiculous in bars and it isnt usually because of ordering pie. i dont drink either and have never had a problem in a bar. If all else fails, the Parker House has the recipe on their web site.
Edited: 7 years ago
Thanks for the recipe link. For fun, Ill try out the recipe after I eat the real one.
You can have the pie in parkers or the last hurrah, no problem. My wife and I have done that a couple of times on different trips. Nice way to relax for a short time between shopping, sightseeing etc.
Enjoy!!
I went searching because I thought I had read that you could get it to go. I found a few reviews that say the person bought the pie in the gift shop at the Parker House. I may just stop by this weekend and get one. I havent had their version in many years.
Penny
Penny
While The Cake Is Cooling Start The Chocolate Glaze:
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How To Recreate The Original Boston Cream Pie
Aug 21, 2020 | Misc
Perhaps more famous than baked beans or the Red Sox, Boston is known for its delicious Boston Cream Pie. Bostons Omni Parker House Hotel is known as the originator of the delicious dessert creation, dating back to 1856. The hotel shares its original recipe so you too can enjoy it at home!
Its known for its delicious pasty cream, and for being Massachusetts official state dessert. Heres how to make yours at home:
Parkers Restaurant Has The Best Dessert In Boston
All visitors of Boston ought to try the citys most famous dessert, the Boston cream pie. And what better place to try it than at the Boston dessert restaurant where it all began?
Located inside the historic Omni Parker House, Parkers Restaurant is the birthplace of this classic cake . Boston cream pies are a type of sponge cake filled with cream and topped with chocolate. This New England classic is fluffy, soft, and buttery the perfect combination for a dessert course.
In addition to Parkers Restaurant, you can find delicious Boston cream pies at Mikes Pastry, Flour Bakery & Café, and Bovas Bakery. Though if youre looking for a top Boston dessert restaurant, this is it!
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This Is An Amazing Cake But Is It Worth The Time
My family kept tabs on me the whole time I was making the cake, eagerly awaiting their chance to taste the outcome. When the glaze finally set, I cut thick slices for us all. And let me tell you: This cake was totally worth making.It was not-too-sweet, rich with the pastry cream, and infused with fresh orange flavor. The chocolate glaze balanced everything out and I just kept going back for more. My family loved it just as much as I did, and I found myself grabbing forkfuls of leftover cake straight from the fridge over the next few days.
The one thing you should know about this cake is that while its definitely inspired by Boston cream pie, it tastes very different from the traditional version. Its more moist from the soak, and very strongly orange-flavored. I thought the orange flavor was absolutely delicious and tied the whole cake together, but it might not appeal to those who are looking for the strong vanilla flavor found in traditional Boston cream pie. But if the orange sounds good to you, this cake is definitely worth the long ingredient list, prep time, and dishwashing after! Its an absolute showstopper of a cake both visually and taste-wise. Ina comes through yet again.
Who Created Boston Cream Pie
The Omni Parker House is Bostons oldest continuously operating hotel established back in 1855. Its also the oldest continuously running hotel in the United States. Plenty of sites proclaim Boston Cream Pie to have been created in 1856. They also claim that BCP was the creation of Chef Sanzian. They are wrong there, too.
The chefs name wasnt Sanzian, but Chef Augustine Anezin, who worked at the hotel from 1865-1881 . As you already guessed, the 1856 date is wrong. The exact year when Boston Cream Pie was created isnt nailed down, but its definitely sometime after 1865 and, obviously, before the chef died in 1881 or we would call this Boston Ghost Pie.
When the Parker House opened in 1855, chocolate was mainly consumed at home as a beverage or in puddings. There was no lack of chocolate in Boston, since Americas first chocolate mill had opened in neighboring Dorchester in 1765.
Since colonial times, New Englanders have enjoyed a dessert called American Pudding-cake pie, but when Parker Houses own Chef Anezin and his bake staff drizzled chocolate icing onto sponge cake filled with vanilla custard, something new and sensational was born. Originally dubbed Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie, Boston Cream Pie became an immediate and perennial hit.
Boston Cream Pie, Omni House Hotel, Accessed August 9, 2021.
It would have made an eye-catching menu item.
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Bovas Bakery Is One Of The Best Sweet Shops In Boston
Located in the North End, Bovas Bakery is known for its traditional Italian baked goods, including Sicilian cannolis, tiramisu, cookies, breads, and pies. They also offer other specialty desserts, including Sfogliatelle, Éclairs, Crème Brule, lobster tails, and more.
Bovas Bakery has been making homemade Italian pastries, cookies, and breads for over 80 years. Its become a staple amongst Bostonians and New Englanders alike, who flock here to enjoy some of the finest Italian treats around. Its no wonder, then, that Bovas has some of Boston best dessert.
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