Angela Pia is an elegant, easy no bake dessert that is as rich in history as it is in flavor. Light, chilled and boozy, this dessert will cap off any meal in style.
After making a Grasshopper Pie from a family recipe for a vintage affair a few weeks back, I was inspired to pull out my Grandmother’s recipe box which is filled with her hand written recipes, and those from her friends as well as my Great Grandmother. It was a time before canned soup casseroles with three ingredients were in vogue and everything was a whole food for the most part.
I was thumbing through the dessert sections and landed on a few that felt unique or seasonal I wanted to try and pass along. My first choice proved that in the ‘60’s (my guess at the recipe vintage) cocktail hour was clearly NOT just for before dinner. The dessert named ‘Angela Pia’ or translated from Italian to be ‘Pious Angel’ was not something I could pass up.
Angela Pia – An Easy No Bake Dessert
Pietro 311 Restaurant
My grandparents would have lived in San Francisco at the time. Anyone who has lived in Northern California in the last century would have heard of famous newspaper columnist Herb Caen.
His columns in the San Francisco chronicle began in the late 1930’s and spanned almost 60 years, always the talk of the breakfast or dinner table in my grandparents’ household. When I saw his recommendation on this recipe slip I was sure it must have been a hit at the time.
I did some sleuthing on the pre-printed recipe I found that had seemingly been torn from a larger document. What I pieced together with some internet help is that the original dessert was served at a restaurant named Pietro 311 on Washington Street in San Francisco.
At the time this would have been in the Produce District, I suspect leaving the clearly adored restaurant a surprise due to its unlikely location combined with its quality cuisine.
The area where it stood is now the Embarcadero Center for those knowledgeable to the Bay Area.
I found a few references to the restaurant in chat sessions from the past decade. They all shared a common palpable nostalgia and fondness for how ‘special’ the restaurant and its cuisine were. This dessert was always mentioned so must have really something in the era (before Jello Pudding Parfaits hit the shelves!).
Using Raw Eggs
Post Script. Following the posting of this article I received two emails that I could not resist sharing. After my research travels on the internet and encountering many misty nostalgic references to Pietro 311, I felt there are others who would relish this background history as I do. My great thanks to Francis for taking the time to write.
Please check the comments for more similar historical accounts of this favorite restaurant too. They piece together the experience at Pietro 311 and a bygone era of dining.
“Hello. My cousin, Stephanie Alioto, was married to Pietro Pinoni, who owned and operated Pietro’s 311 restaurant at 311 Washington Street in San Francisco, where I was a frequent diner. I loved the Angela Pia desert, which means “pious angel” but which was named after his sister-in-law, Angelina Alioto Figone. And the reason the restaurant was in the produce district at the time was because Pietro’s father-in-law, my Grand Uncle Ignatius Alioto’s fish processing plant, Consolidated Fish Co., was just up the street, and my Grandfather’s plant, San Francisco International Fish Co., was a couple of blocks away where what is now the redwood grove of the Transamerica building at the corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets.
Pietro started his restaurant in the late 50s at 311 Washington St., then when that lease was not renewed, he moved up a block, but kept the 311 name until redevelopment took that building for the new apartments and high-rise buildings sometime in the mid- to late ’60s. Pietro then moved the restaurant across to Marin County, but that was short-lived. He “retired” to make wine, write a book on wine making, and travel.
How long did you all live in SF? Do you remember the Tortola on Polk Street? The predecessor, Garabaldi’s Tamale Parlor, was started by my Great-grandfather; operated by my grandparents, and then by my father until about 1978, when it closed, as none of us wanted to go into the restaurant business.
At one time, a group of us made a list of t he old SF restaurants (and businesses) that were such a part of the city and are now gone – e.g., Maye’s Oyster House, The Old Poodle Dog, Jack’s, Paoli’s, The Temple Bar, El Matador, Original Joe’s on Broadway, Vanessi’s, Veneto’s, The White House, J. Magnin, Roos Brothers, etc. I am sure you remember all of them.
Regards,
Francis Scarpulla”
More Classic Easy No Bake Dessert Recipes You’ll Love:
Cherries Jubilee with Vanilla Ice Cream
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ANGELA PIA (Pious Angel)
Ingredients
- 3 eggs separated
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ounce brandy
- 1 ounce rum
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 package Knox gelatin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Set a saucepan filled with water over medium high heat on the stove to come to a low boil.
- Add the packet of gelatin to ¼ cup of water in a metal bowl (which will go over the saucepan of hot water) for 5 minutes.
- While the water is coming to a low boil and gelatin is soaking, add egg yolks to a different bowl and whisk or beat with a mixer until fully mixed. Gradually add the sugar and continue beating until fully mixed into a light yellow, thick mixture. Add the brandy and rum and mix thoroughly.
- If 5 minutes has elapsed, place the bowl with gelatin over the hot water and whisk until it is fully dissolved. Remove from heat to cool for a few minutes. Pour into yolk mixture and stir to fully combine.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Note: this cane be done during the time the gelatin was processing.
- Beat whipping cream until it forms peaks and add the vanilla.
- Fold together the egg whites and whipping cream mixture. Fold those into the yolk mixture until all are fully combined. Put into small cocktail glasses or sherbet cups to chill or freeze at least two hours before serving (I froze mine longer and they were light and easy to eat).
Elisa says
November 2, 2018 at 4:56 pmThanks for sharing … my parents made this for dinner parties many times (that exact recipe from Pietro 311!)
Toni Dash says
November 3, 2018 at 8:33 amI love knowing that Elisa!
David Hupp says
May 22, 2018 at 12:54 pmI want to weigh in about Pietro 311 restaurant, unique among my more than 7 decades of restaurant experience. I remember the place fondly. My visits to Pietro’s spanned a decade, from 1953 or so to 1963. For a short period I lived in San Francisco and could walk to the place.
Pietro greeted everyone as they entered, and he set my standard for what a restaurateur ought to be. Pietro knew his many regulars by name, while those of us who visited infrequently he recognized, but did not speak our names. His manner was completely warm and welcoming. Once seated, our dinner began with the most comprehensive antipasto platter I’ve experienced, including pickled pigs’ feet (my first time for those). Right from the start we needed to discipline ourselves or we’d be full before the entree, because we’d fill up on the antipasto and San Francisco’s unique sourdough bread. Next came either a large family-bowl of really good minestrone or salad, I cannot remember the order. The salad was a good caesar, prepared on a cart at the table, a strong visual memory. First, the garlic rubbed into the bowl. Then the croutons and anchovies. Then the lemon juice, followed by a shower of olive oil. Literally a shower, because holes had been punched in the top of a gallon can of oil and the waiter held the can upside down over the salad bowl. I cannot recall, there may have followed a shower of red wine vinegar, although a caesar’s acid can come from lemon juice alone. Finally, the crisp romaine was dressed with freshly shredded parmesian and served with a flourish.
Next, was primo, an excellent red-sauced pasta (my soul food). The secondo, or entree, was a choice of such as chicken cacciatore, 4 or 5 choices, as I recall. The finish was the magical Angela Pia and espresso. All so far were included in a fixed-price dinner. Besides the decent dinner wine, sometimes I’d have an apertivo, such as Punte Mes, and afterward a cordial liqueur of some sort, perhaps grappa.
So far the show was not unique, although always special, as I loved the waiters. At the end of dinner, however, the small glassware was cleared by waiters singing opera arias. One fellow I remember in particular. His name was George and he’d cart off our empty cordial glasses balanced on his bald pate singing Verdi or Puccini in a decent voice. Wotta show!
We tended to eat late, so when we exited the front door we’d need to step carefully to avoid the crates of lettuce and other produce that had been stacked on the curb edge of the sidewalk, headed for the produce market across the street.
I’m not sure of the true story, but at the time I’d understood that Pietro 311 needed to move from its original address at 311 Washington, two blocks up to the 500 block because then-Mayor George Christopher forced the issue about the produce market. Christopher was corrupt and I was told that I understood that Pietro hated that mayor. What I didn’t know at the time was that Pietro was the brother in law of future mayor Joe Alioto. At the time we all admired Pietro for standing up to a corrupt mayor and for keeping the “311” as sort of an act of defiance.
Over the years I’ve made many Angela Pia desserts. Once I even made it in plastic water glasses and took it to a post-hike potluck/poetry reading at a nearby mountain lake. It was, and always is, a big hit. As I am not fond of vanilla, I substituted lime juice, and add a garnish of finely shaved lime zest, which goes nicely visually. The recipe otherwise is unaltered; check it out:
Separate 3 eggs, reserving whites Beat yolks until light
Add 1/3c sugar, beat until fluffy
Add:
1T cognac or triple sec 1T rum
scant* 1/4 t vanilla
Angela Pia (serves 6-8)
Combine and heat gently and briefly to dissolve gelatin, add to eggs and beat well
scant* 1t gelatin scant* 2T lime juice
Beat reserved egg whites to stiff peaks, fold into eggs
Beat 1c cream to soft peaks, fold into eggs
Chill until set, up to 2 hours, covered, ans serve
Optional: garnish with a very light dusting of fresh nutmeg
*NOTE: This dessert is best when the vanilla, lime juice and gelatin is used sparingly
Source: An anonymous chef working at Pietro 311 Restaurant in San Francisco in the 1950s.
Toni Dash says
May 22, 2018 at 1:27 pmOh my goodness David this may be the favorite comment I’ve ever received on any blog post ever. What a treasure trove of memories and details that take me back to being a child when my grandparents live in ‘the city’ and hearing names like Alioto thrown around in context that I couldn’t yet understand. There are have multiple family members ring in on this post and past patrons, all of whom exude the love of this special restaurant and a bygone era of dining. Thank you, thank you, for taking the time to share all of this. I truly treasure it.
David Hupp says
May 24, 2018 at 10:47 amWow! You are on top of your blog. Sometimes when I post somewhere I wonder if anyone’s reading. And here, with years passed in these posts, I wonder if anyone will read mine. I’m glad you liked it.
Some of your recipes interest me and I’ll comment there. Good work you do.
Toni Dash says
May 24, 2018 at 11:51 amI read every comment David! I feel if people take the time to comment I owe them reading it! Also this post has evoked so many memories and stories for people, it’s a favorite for me too. Your comment prompted me to do some updating to the post too (dusting it off, enlargening the original photos, etc). Thank you again.
Toni Dash says
May 25, 2018 at 10:38 amDavid did you happen to read the other comments? I just went through them again myself. They include Pietro’s daughter, other relatives and patrons. You might enjoy them!
David Hupp says
June 16, 2018 at 11:35 amHi Toni,
Yes I read all the blogs (lived near Dave Pinoni’s Walnut Creek many years ago, but did not know him. Further memory takes me to recall that the Pietro 311 meal included the choice of Osso Bucco or Saltimbocca (“jump in the mouth”) or lamb shanks as entrees. Likely the first time I’d had either.
I’m making Angela Pia for guests tonight to accompany a Thai meal.
By the way, another wonderful source of Italian Americana and recipes is the late and sorely missed Angelo Pellegrini, whose classic work, The Unprejudiced Palate, was one of my first food literature (and recipe) books (first read about the time I went to Pietro 311). He taught English Literature at the University of Washington. I regret that, when I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I didn’t look him up and thank him for his profound influence. You might check him out.
Thanks again for your blog.
Reina Michelle says
April 9, 2015 at 7:02 pmMy mom was a gourmet cook and did quite a bit of experimentation of her own. My brother is coming to Santa Cruz from Los Angeles to visit me around his birthday and I am going to surprise him with his favorite dessert from the 60’s, Angela Pia. I also have Mom’s recipe card but wondered if anyone else knew about the dessert and stumbled onto this website. Thanks for the memories from Southern California!
Toni Dash says
April 9, 2015 at 7:17 pmThis really has been one of my favorite posts over the year really for all the commenters! You’ll see the family from the original restaurant, now spread around the world, have all commented. And other who remember it. I never experienced it myself but writing about it brought such fond memories from my childhood time in San Francisco with my grandparents. I hope your brother is thrilled! Incidentally I went to college in Santa Cruz!
NancyB says
November 4, 2014 at 7:34 pmAbsolutely loved this story! I had an aunt and uncle who lived in San francisco that we visited several times. They had an Italian daughter in law, so I’m sure we ate there at least once! 😉 I enjoy reading about the connections that appear afterwards from these online postings that stir memories and bring together people who otherwise would remain unknown to each other. Another fabulous recipe to try, too!
Rita Lugo Sokolowski says
February 26, 2014 at 4:05 pmWow! Just wax me notalgic!
Herb Caen, San Francisco, Alioto, and that beautiful vintage napkin. Homesick!
Especially made me miss my uncle Jess Gonzales who ran a trucking company in San Francisco. He loved good food and especially Italian food, and he loved Herb Caen. I wish he were still around to tell me if he ever took my Aunt there.
Thanks for the memories and for a new recipe that I will remember them by.
Toni Dash says
February 26, 2014 at 5:47 pmI felt the same way in writing this Rita. Especially with the outpouring of letters from their family, some which I appended the post with and others that I did not. It feels like the recipe really has a history and a soul, doesn’t it?
Suzanne says
February 14, 2014 at 3:32 pmI, too, have this recipe handed down from my mother, probably originally from her mother – both San Francisco women. It is always a hit when I make it. I use less whipped cream. Make it in a tart pan with a light crushed almond crust. After it chills a bit, I add raspberries and blueberries or thinly sliced strawberries and blueberries on top in whatever pattern strikes me at the moment.
Your link was among others that appeared when I was searching for something else. Thanks for the reminder – must make angela Pia again soon.
Toni Dash says
February 14, 2014 at 7:07 pmSuzanne this has been one of my favorite posts I’ve done I think. Somehow taking the trip down SF memory lane was so fun. Out of this post I have had a number of relatives internationally of Pietro email me about their memories having not stayed connected with the family. It’s been fascinating and it seems most everyone who lived in the City at that time remembers the restaurant and dessert. Thank YOU for your commment as you are reminding me I need to make Angela Pia myself!
Kirsten says
December 22, 2013 at 7:36 pmMy mom has that exact recipe card in her stash of recipes and got it when she used to frequent Pietro’s 311 back in the day!
I am going to make this for Christmas dinner…delicioso!