pie are not round, pie are squared

There are few things better than a perfect piece of pie. I do like a good slice of black forest cake (anything with chocolate and cherries is just heavenly), but for perfection, you can't beat pie. Especially strawberry-rhubarb pie.

My favorite fall ritual has been going out to Silverman's Farm to pick up, oh, 4 pies, or more. Strawberry-rhubarb, apple, pumpkin, and some kind of mixed berry. It's heavenly. That way, you can have a slice for breakfast and for dessert every day for at least a week!

Pet peeves about baaaad pie:

• the crust -- butter is important, good dough...it should NOT, I repeat, NOT, taste like cardboard
• the filling -- don't overdo it on the sugar. It should be sweet but not sickeningly so. A little tartness is always good.

Calvin Trillin, the great humorist and columnist, wrote several books about eating out. I always remember this anecdote that he told about his dad. His dad used to make up rhymes. This is my favorite.

"Let's go warden, I'm ready to fry.

But first let me have a piece of Mrs. Trillin's pie."