Now it is often imitated, but rarely duplicated, and imitations never speak its name. They can call it Winner's Circle Pie, or Thoroughbred Pie, or Bluegrass Pie. To meet demand for the real thing this time of year, ovens at the company's 2,000-squarefoot bakery work overtime, turning out 680 pies a day, compared with around 500 in other months. Derby season is an exceptional time of year for all business in the Louisville area. Mr. Rupp explained.
Visitors are coming in, the flowers are blooming, people are out spending money.
We do a third of our business in the second quarter. Retail shops sell them whole, especially the 15 stores in the Ehrler's dairy chain around Louisville. Evidence of the pie's appeal can be found in Kern's client list, which includes most major hotels, the private Jefferson Club and various country clubs. Derby-Pie is also served at Gibb's, a barbecue place, and Hoe Kow, a Chinese restaurant. Absence of Derby-Pie on a menu, in fact, is actually touted by some restaurants that want to prove they bake their desserts on the premises.