The Best Chess Pie In The World Is Located At This Tennessee Farmers Market
By Meghan Kraft|Published April 06, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
There’s nothing more homey or nostalgic than a slice of freshly baked pie. The sweetness in the filling, the flaky, buttery goodness of the crust. Here in the American south, you will find plenty of pie purveyors, but none can hold a candle to the quiet industry and passion found in Geraldine’s Chess Pies. You can only locate these delicious desserts at farmers markets here in Middle Tennessee, but we can promise you they are worth the search.
The Franklin Farmers Market is located in Franklin, Tennessee, and is open throughout the year on Saturday mornings. It’s a popular place to pick up locally farmed fresh meats, produce, and dairy, and a handful of food trucks set up shop for hungry patrons.
Almost 100 vendors provide onsite, homegrown staples every weekend, and the market’s central location in downtown Franklin makes it an easy place to access. Produce may be the shining star, and many folks leave with bouquets of flowers, but the true star of the show is a humble pie vendor with a heart of gold.
Geraldine’s Greatest Chess Pies is owned, aptly, but Geraldine Bell herself, and her bright personality and kind demeanor stand out amidst the busy market. Geraldine has been baking homemade pies and selling them at both Nashville and Franklin farmers markets for years, and her decadent desserts have become something of a local staple.
If you aren’t from the South, you may be curious about just what a chess pie is. The dessert is found commonly throughout the nation’s southern region and is made with cornmeal and butter to form a custard-like filling in a pastry crust. The filling forms a crisp brown topping while it's baking, which provides a subtle crunch, and the sweetness throughout is light and never overwhelming.
Geraldine sells classic chess pies as well as seasonal favorites like pumpkin and pecan pies depending on the time of year. You will also find twists on the chess pie favorite, like coconut, chocolate, or lemon chess pies.
Have you had a chess pie from Geraldine yet? Make sure you stop by her booth the next time you’re at the market! Enjoy a slice with an ice-cold glass of milk, no hard work required. We will warn you, though - these pies are addicting! It may be hard to just buy one…
Geraldine’s Chess Pies can be found both at the Nashville and Franklin Farmers Markets in Middle Tennessee. If you’re planning to visit on a bright and beautiful Saturday morning, make sure you invest in a pie for the week ahead!
You can find out more about Geraldine’s World Famous Chess Pies on its official Facebook page or Instagram page. If you have more questions, make sure you message Geraldine directly through either platform.
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