Happy 'Pi Day' from Main Street Bakery

Eric Tedder has been so busy preparing for the Easter baked goods rush that he almost missed "Pi Day," an annual celebration of the mathematical number that keeps on giving, 3.14159...

"I had no idea," said Tedder, who learned about Pi Day on Facebook, like most people outside the realm of math. It has been going on for about 25 years, and this year most pi revelers will likely opt to discuss the significance of the number π, go see "Life of Pi," the movie, or eat pie.

"I've got one chocolate pie left," said Tedder, who admitted he wasn't prepared for the pie buying public.

Besides, he's got other holidays to prep for – St. Patrick's Day is coming fast, and he's already got shamrock cookies and green bedazzled cupcakes in the case.

"Easter's huge for us," said Tedder, who will have Easter Bunny cakes, ricotta pies, 5-Egg Easter Breads and Easter-themed cookies.

With spring holidays comes actual spring, and Tedder is hopeful business will pick up as the snow melts away.

"It's been slow – slower than I'd hoped. People come in, sometimes, to see what we have, but they don't buy anything. Sometimes they say we don't have enough of a selection toward the end of the day, but our new motto is 'Better to sell out than to sell old.' I'd rather sell fresh baked goods than have leftovers," Tedder said.

In the course of a half hour on Thursday he got an order for a sheet cake from St. Louis church, and someone called about the ricotta pies, which require a special trip to Donabedian Brothers in Salem for the Polly-O ricotta cheese.

"It's the only place in Southern New Hampshire I can find it, and it's really the only ricotta I can use – it's just the right consistency," Tedder says.

Eric's Main Street Bakery is located at 182 Main Street. Hours are Tuesday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is closed on Mondays. You can find more cakes, pastry photos and daily specials on Main Street Bakery's Facebook page.