(Snippets from the frontline)
Coconut custard pie
A yearly challenge for some medical students is paying for tuition, books, and housing. This worsened midway through my second year with dwindling funds and loans exhausted. Dropping out was a possibility.
By chance, a friend brought over a slice of pie and gave me the recipe. I changed several ingredients, and as it turned out, this “doctored” coconut custard pie became my economic salvation.
A new restaurant had opened nearby, so I pitched samples evolving into making 8 pies a day, 6 days a week. Getting up before dawn, it took 2 hours to complete baking, then prior to class, I would drop them off at the restaurant.
In the evening, I would pick up the empty pie pans to again be filled the next day. I made a sizable profit.
No dropping out of school, and surprisingly, my friend upon receiving a slice asked for the recipe unaware it was a version he had given me.
Eventually when neighbors heard I was moving, they mourned the loss of undulating morning aromas permeating our community.
Maybe I should have been a chef, but satisfying the soul was more important than satisfying the palate.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Hi Dr. Dorio,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on so many subjects. Is there any chance you would share that special recipe for coconut custard pie? I have a brother that really likes coconut custard pie and your recipe sounds like a winner. ( I tried to make one once and he didn’t think it was all that great)
Have a great day!
Love this story. (And made we want a piece of that pie!)