Milk Bar Changes the Name of Iconic ‘Crack Pie' After Criticism (2024)

What to Know

  • Milk Bar's Christina Tosi announced the change of the 'Crack Pie' name on Monday
  • The change comes after a long controversy about the allusion to the addictive nature of crack cocaine
  • In a column by Devra First in the Boston Globe published last month, First wrote that the name was “not cute"

The famous Milk Bar "Crack Pie" shall henceforth be known as "Milk Bar Pie," after the name of the pie was slammed in a column published by the "Boston Globe."

In a letter published on the Milk Bar website Monday, pastry chef Christina Tosi announced that her company had changed the name of the pie.

“Our mission, after all, is to spread joy and inspire celebration. The name Crack Pie falls short of this mission,” the letter said. “The old name was getting in the way of letting the gooey, buttery slice bring happiness— my only goal in creating the thing in the first place.”

The change comes after a long controversy about the allusion to the addictive nature of crack cocaine -- and the resulting epidemic in the 80s and 90s that heavily affected black communities.

In a columnby Devra First in the Boston Globe published last month, First wrote that the name was “not cute.”

“A bakery would never try to market something called Fentanyl Cake, and the name Crack Pie feels offensively off-key,” she said. “The language of addiction is frequently deployed when it comes to food, and it’s time to stop.”

And stop they did.

“The fact of the matter is, anyone who visits this website or our stores or our social media is our family too, and we listen to what you have to say,” Tosi’s letter said. “While change is never easy, we feel this is the right decision.”

Now a hugely popular dessert chain, Milk Bar was founded by Tosi while she was working at Momof*cku, a famous New York restaurant owned by chef and restaurateur David Chang.

Since launching in 2008, Milk Bar now has multiple outlets in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston, Las Vegas and Toronto.

Milk Bar Changes the Name of Iconic ‘Crack Pie' After Criticism (2024)

FAQs

Milk Bar Changes the Name of Iconic ‘Crack Pie' After Criticism? ›

What to Know. The famous Milk Bar "Crack Pie" shall henceforth be known as "Milk Bar Pie," after the name of the pie was slammed in a column published by the "Boston Globe." In a letter published on the Milk Bar website Monday, pastry chef Christina Tosi announced that her company had changed the name of the pie.

Why did Milk Bar rename Crack Pie? ›

In the letter addressed both to consumers and employees, Tosi writes that “the old name was getting in the way” of the bakery's core mission “to spread joy and inspire celebration” — essentially making people feel unwelcome. “While change is never easy, we feel this is the right decision,” she writes.

What is the Milk Bar controversy? ›

Milk Bar's eight staffers at the Harvard Square shop voted to unionize “after nearly a year of unsavory work conditions, severe pay discrepancies, and a blatant steady decline in investment of its staff and physical space,” the statement on Instagram reads.

Is the Milk Bar Pie the same as Crack Pie? ›

Milk Bar Pie, also known as Crack Pie, is a dessert created by the American chef Christina Tosi in 2008 while working at the New York City restaurant wd~50. It became the signature dish of Tosi's bakery, Milk Bar.

Where did Crack Pie get its name? ›

Crack Pie — the trademarked name for the chain's buttery, sugary pie — will now become Milk Bar Pie. The name was a reference to crack cocaine — the gag being that the pie was just as addictive as the drug.

Why is it called the milk bar? ›

With time, milk bars began to offer goods typically associated with grocery stores, while, according to Donnelly, the corner shops began to adopt the milkshake and therefore the title “milk bar;” from both ends, the milk bar essentially became a term to refer to a corner shop, akin to a deli or a bodega.

What do Americans call milk bars? ›

A "dairy bar" is the term for a similar restaurant/store common in the Northeastern United States, especially upstate New York, which is a large producer of dairy products.

Does Christina Tosi still own milk bars? ›

Christina Tosi (born 1981) is an American chef and cookbook author. She is founder and co-owner with Momof*cku of Milk Bar and serves as its chef and chief executive officer.

Is Momof*cku the same as Milk Bar? ›

Milk Bar (originally Momof*cku Milk Bar) is a chain of dessert and bakery restaurants in the United States, founded by chef Christina Tosi. As of 2023, the chain has branches in New York City; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; and Bellevue, Washington.

What kind of chef is Christina Tosi? ›

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi thought she'd be an accountant. Now she's a James Beard Award–winning pastry chef—and she urges 'drinking failures up for breakfast'

Does Milk Bar Pie need to be refrigerated? ›

How do I store my items and what is the shelf life? Cookies stay fresh at room temperature for 5 days and can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Milk Bar Pie and cake truffles, which all require refrigeration, stay fresh in the fridge for 7 days and up to 1 month in the freezer.

Is Crack Pie good? ›

Momof*cku Milk Bar Pie (also known as Crack Pie) is an utterly delicious recipe perfect for a sweet indulgence.

Why is it called Boston cream pie when it is a cake? ›

A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were baked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".

Why isn't it called Crack Pie anymore? ›

Crack Pie is a butter pie with an oat crust. The change comes after continued controversy, with the name's reported allusion to the addictive nature of crack cocaine, which decimated mostly African-American communities in the 1980s and '90s.

What is Milk Bar Pie made of? ›

Overview: How to make Milk Bar Crack Pie

The crust is the perfect cookie consistency to hold the gooey buttery filling. Prepare the filling: The filling is a mixture of sugar, milk powder, egg yolk, heavy cream, butter and vanilla.

Why is Mississippi mud pie called Mississippi mud pie? ›

The name Mississippi mud pie derives from the pie's appearance, which could remind casual observers of Mississippi River mud. Out of the oven, this dense chocolate dessert looks like Mississippi River clay that the sun has parched, crusted, and cracked.

Why is Boston cream cake called a pie? ›

A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were baked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".

Why did pie crack? ›

You overbaked the pie

Eggs, when cooked, thicken and set the custard, but when overcooked the egg proteins will tighten up quickly and create cracks.

What is another name for a milk bar? ›

(small cafe): dairy bar. ice cream parlor. delicatessen.

What was the milk bar in the 1950s? ›

In the 1950s, milk bars sold 73 per cent of Melbourne's confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks, and 33 per cent of its tobacco. The milk bar was more than just a mixed business; it played an important social role in the community.

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