One of my favorite restaurants in NYC is The Pink Tea Cup (42 Grove Street between Bedford & Bleecker). It's been around for over 50 years and is known as the first soul food restaurant in the West Village.
I've spent several Thanksgivings there and with Turkey Day coming up, I thought it would be fitting to post the recipe for their sweet potato pie--the best in the world! (The rest of the food is wonderful too, although not exactly healthy.)
I have great memories of this place, especially the time someone put on a neverending Led Zeppelin song at 8am on a Sunday morning. This isn't that kind of place. :) The cook came out and pulled the plug to the cheers of the patrons and the waiters.
Please, if you're in the West Village, stop by, have a slice of pie, and put Ray Charles on the jukebox for me.
2 lbs. yams
1/2 c. butter
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. ginger
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
2 T. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
3 large eggs, separated
1/2 c. of orange juice
1 T. grated orange rind
1/2 c. evaporated milk
Peel and boil yams until mashable. Add butter, spices, salt, sugars to hot yams. Beat until light and smooth. Beat egg yolks until light and add to mixture. Stir in orange juice, rind and milk. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mix. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell. Preheat oven to 350 and bake 35 minutes, or until pie puffs up and is firm in the middle. Cool on the rack. Add whipped cream.
Have a great Thanksgiving. For more of my NYC trip tips--where to go and eat, click here.
