Signature Dish: Pie Me Pies’ avocado chocolate lime pie

It’s a ‘don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it’ treat with a forward hit of lime and a lingering smoothness of avocado. The creamy filling is placed in a chocolate cookie crumb crust and topped with a little whipped cream.

“You’ve really got to make sure you find the Haas avocados, nice and ripe,” McFadyen said. “You blend them up so they’re super creamy, it’s got cream cheese, add your fresh lime juice and whatever sweetener we use and let it cool. If we do it the day before, it’s nice and limey in the pie on the day of sale.”

The idea itself came from a chef in New York, with McFadyen putting her own spin on it.

Small batches, unique flavours and quality ingredients are what sets Pie Me Pies apart from offerings in a local grocery store or bakery.

McFadyen will only make around six or seven of a particular pie per batch, ranging from fruit pies to cream-based. She also offers up a slice of ‘sex in the pan’, combining vanilla, chocolate and cheesecake layers into one bite.

The business opened in late 2019 then braced during the pandemic but McFadyen said they’ve thrived thanks to a loyal customer base in Chemainus and elsewhere on the Island.

“Really my biggest platforms have been social media and I find the people who come have been very very nice in supporting our business. People will put a nice post up, our reviews have been really good so I feel like the people who come here have been so nice.”

The avocado lime pie at Pie Me Pies in Chemainus is a flavour all to its own, blending sweet and savoury with a unique citrus kick. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

In addition to her own inspiration, the availability of local produce dictates what goes on the menu at Pie Me Pies.

McFadyen will source whatever she can locally including blueberries from Stocking Creek Farm near Ladysmith, as well as a rhubarb farm in Westholme, just south of Chemainus.

It’s the extra steps which makes Pie Me Pies destination eating.

“I don’t know whether it’s because it’s small batch, but I think when you’re using all fresh, squeezing the juice fresh, I don’t buy anything pre-made so I think fresh and as local as possible, it just tastes better.”

Pies aren’t the only thing flying out of their tucked-away storefront in downtown Chemainus.

When the neighbouring ice cream shop didn’t open for summer last year, McFadyen found herself directing upwards of 50 people a day where to go elsewhere for the cool treat.

Then it hit her – pies and ice cream, blended together, and the pie-shake was born.

“We have chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream, you pick your slice of pie and I just drop it in a shake. They are so good, we have lots of people come back for it.”

Perplexed customers expecting a pie-flavoured milkshake are commonplace when a pie shake is ordered.

“They do and then they’ll see me cram a perfectly good piece of pie into the milkshake and I get a lot of laughs out of it.”

Pie Me Pies is located in the Secret Garden at 9748D Willow St. in downtown Chemainus, in behind the candy shop on the street.

They’re open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. but you can call them at 604 219 8998, email piemepies@gmail.com or visit them on Facebook for inquiries or special orders.

Pie Me Pies offers a wide range of fruit and cream pies, including multiple chocolate-based desserts. (Pie Me Pies)

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Signature Dish: Pie Me Pies’ avocado chocolate lime pie

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