Marie Callenders

Darrell Reich

Submitted on 6/28/2008

Back in the '90s I decided to bring in a strawberry pie for secretary's (administrative assistant's) day. As the office grew, so did the celebration. The last time, I sent out an email complete with a 'pie chart' as everyone voted on what pies to order. On the day, I picked up a dozen pies and we stuffed ourselves. I learned an important lesson: Always save the lemon & key lime pie for last otherwise it makes the strawberry, chocolate, banana, and apple pie taste funny. Recently, I went back to the store on Balboa Ave that had been there longer than I had been alive. The sign said they lost their lease. As a grown man, I nearly cried as I starred in disbelief. Had I known, I would have chained myself to a bulldozer to stop it from happening! Please don't make it another starbucks...I tried to drown my sorrows at Coco's down the street but it's just not the same as I chocked down their pie. ;-(

Diane Ferraro

Submitted on 5/15/2008

When I was a little girl back in the mid-1970s, my babysitter knew that if I had a tough day at school she'd be able to cheer me up at the Marie Callender's in Orange with a slice of fresh Lemon Meringue pie. After all these years, this delicious pie still does the trick and puts a smile on my face after a tough day at work!

Eric Bjerke

Submitted on 4/27/2008

Marie Callender's Restaurant played a huge role in my courtship of my beautiful bride of 21 years. But it didn't start out so smoothly. In the early 80's I was part of a college group at my church and a pretty visitor with stunning eyes looked like she needed to be invited to lunch. Since I was somehow the one who decided where we ate each Sunday, I invited her and gave her directions to the Marie's on Candlewood, across from Lakewood Mall in Lakewood. After our contingent arrived at the restaurant and was seated, I realized that my new friend hadn't shown up. Somebody quickly realized that there were two Marie's on Candlewood and maybe she stopped at the older, smaller pie shop instead of continuing on to the full service restaurant. I got to my car, drove back down the street, and walked into the other Marie's where I saw an obviously steamed young lady glaring holes through me. She thought I had purposely tricked her into going to the wrong restaurant. Obviously it wasn't love at first sight, but four years later we had grown into best friends. That friendship was nurtured through many visits to Marie's, and by the time we knew there was something special between us, long talks in the parking lot after closing had become a big part of our dating life. Marie's has played a BIG part in my life! Happy 60th! P.S. We almost named our first daughter "Marie Callender" but settled for making her middle name "Marie."

Paula Thomas & Family

Submitted on 4/26/2008

My first experience with visiting Marie Callender's was back in the 70's. I had just moved to the LA area in California from Ohio. My husband and I and our two baby daughters did not know anyone in California. I felt lonely and missed my parents and friends. As soon as I entered Marie Callender's restaurant it felt like home. It was so warm and friendly and the delicious comfort foods menu, well, it was like visiting mom and dad. We moved after a year from LA to a home in Orange County. I knew that Marie would be somewhere close by. My children grew up going almost weekly to Marie Callender's restaurants. To this day, now that my two daughter's are grown and I now have nine grandchildren, well,...we will be going "home" to Marie Callender's for Mother's Day! Marie Callender's is my home away from home. Thanks for all the memories, God Bless. Paula Thomas & Family

Stefanie Schmidt

Submitted on 4/18/2008

Marie Callender's is special to me because it has helped bring my mom and I closer together. We don't always get along or see eye to eye, but when we have dinner together at Marie's we are able to talk and catch up on things and always enjoy the good food. We live in different states and don't see each other much, so whenever she comes to visit we always go to Marie's. She loves the Sesame Chicken Salad and I love the cornbread. We talk, we laugh and enjoy the great food. Then when our delicious dinner is done we always take some pie home to share, my favorite is the Chocolate Satin. Marie Callender's is our favorite restaurant and it has helped bring us together and keep the mother daughter bond alive. Marie's makes dinners special and delicious.

Akon Otoyo

Submitted on 4/02/2008

Let me start by saying that I am going through withdrawals! I moved to the east coast (No. Virginia) two years ago and I have not found a coconut cream pie that is comparable to Marie Callender's. I am dying here! I use to live in Los Angeles and Marie Callender's was 10 min away. It is the cream filling in the pie that hit's the right spot. Smooth and creamy, not too sweet, but sweet enough. The coconuts strips are perfect in portion amounts. Just right. Oh..and the crust in ALL the pies! OMG, "to die for". I was searching the website to see if I could have a pie delivered to me, but I see that service is not available. I wish it were. Until then, I will be putting in a special request to my parents, who live in LA, for them to hand carry several pies when they visit me in June.

Jay & Jessica Mize

Submitted on 3/22/2008

I feel a kinship with Marie's because I also am celebrating a 60th (birthday) anniversary in April. But more importantly, we have been with MC thru thick & thin, if you know what I mean! We discovered MC back in the early 1970's in Fresno, CA. It wasn't long before my husband Jay was calling her his "girlfriend." We moved many times over the years due to our jobs, but the first thing we would do when we moved to a new town was to find the nearest MC. We are your most ardent fans and have celebrated many birthdays, anniversaries and family get-togethers at Marie's, not to mention hundreds of pies bought to take home. We absolutely love your pies and the food is great, too! You have given us many pleasurable hours of dining! We have even been to a MC in Utah. Keep up the good work!!!