A really fly pie

The banana cream pie ($8) at Blackbird Kitchen & Bar is what pieholes were made for. But this isn't really a pie—it's a round disk of a toasty, nutty crust with a big dollop of creamed banana fluff and heavy whipped cream. Here, banana slices are nicely arranged on the side with rummy caramel. This is where the action is: First, you think the crust is the big surprise, until you mull one of the caramelized nanner wedges with your tongue. The slices each have a side covered with a brûléed glaze, which leaves the outer edge crisp and rich and the inside soft. 1015 Ninth Street, (916) 498-9224, www.blackbird-kitchen.com.