Growing up, my favorite lunch was a frosted fruit pie, but it was never really about the pie. My mom only tucked one into my sack lunch on special occasions: my birthday, the first day of school. She made everything from scratch, so that little pie was never just a treat. It was a message.

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Most nights, I'd sit in the kitchen and watch her work, turning simple ingredients into a little bit of magic. She taught me that patience, technique, and a willingness to try something new are what turn ordinary food into someone's favorite memory.

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I chased that curiosity everywhere else first, from the TV newsroom to consumer marketing. But the kitchen kept calling me back. It's where I've always belonged.

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In 2009, I started A la Mode Pies. I'm not just recreating my mom's recipes. I'm reimagining them, with real ingredients and a lot of imagination. Every pie and tart is made to look as good as it tastes, by hand, with no sprinkles, no shortcuts, and no grocery store gimmicks. 

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Today, you'll find us in two neighborhood cafés: in the West Seattle Junction and just beside the Ballard Public library. And this November, I'm thrilled to bring our original Phinney Ridge bakery back to life, reopening across from Woodland Park Zoo, right where it all began.

 

Just really, really good pie. The kind Mom would be proud to serve.