The Return of Hubig's Pies
As World War I erupted, master baker Simon Hubig began making pies at his first location in Fort Worth, Texas. His sweet creations gained popularity quickly, and Hubig expanded to other cities, including a New Orleans location opened in 1922 at 2417 Dauphine St in Faubourg Marigny. The Depression took a hard toll on the Hubig empire and, in the end, only the New Orleans location remained open.
For nigh on a century, the factory in the upper Ninth Ward has put out full sized pies, small rounds and its signature folded fried pies, filled with apple, blackberry, lemon, sweet potato and chocolate fillings.
Until the early morning hours of Friday July 27, 2012, when a five-alarm fire broke out at the Hubig factory at Dauphine and Spain. Although the New Orleans Fire Department sent at least 32 vehicles and nearly 100 firefighters and support personnel to the scene, the fire was a total loss and the company was unable to resume production.
After the fire, as various family factions fought over the rights to the name and recipes, New Orleansians languished in a Hubigless desert, pining for a return of the beloved treats. Haydel's Bakery, famous for its king cakes, put out a line of "New Orleans style Hand Pies" in 2016, but the pastry proved an inadequate substitute for Savory Simon's signature snack.
Finally, in November of 2022, more than a decade after the fire, Hubig's announced its triumphant return to New Orleans, initiallly offering apple and lemon pies, with the promise of more fillings to come.
© 2012-2023 Louie Ludwig
Music: from "The Things You Done on a Mardi Gras Day"
Featuring Boo LaCrosse on trumpet
© 2019 Louie Ludwig/zzi Music LLC ISRC USWGE1900001 ASCAP 896189867 All Rights Reserved