Best of Rhode Island 2009 Editors' Picks

A pie by any other name would still belong to Iris Monroe. She has a recipe journal as thick as a redwood and doles out weekly varieties such as Queens Blood (blood orange custard cream and dark chocolate), Raspberry Lime Riki (lime custard on top of a raspberry base), Choco Coco Tango (coconut custard in a dark chocolate covered crust) and Bananas Foster (rum custard topped with banana slices and puree). The best news is that her pies are as fresh as they are delicious since they never go through a middle man. She hocks her enviable wares at the Hope Artiste Winter Farmers' Market and, during the warmer months, at Lippitt Park and the Downtown Providence Farmers' Market.