Can you imagine a multi-course Thanksgiving dinner that isn’t followed by a big ol’ slice of pumpkin pie? We tapped chef and television personality Eden Grinshpan to give us her take on where to nab the most delicious pie in the city.
WINNER: CHARMAINE SWEETS
“This pie has a beautifully pumpkin flavour to it, and the crust has the most satisfying crunch and texture. I love how rustic it looks and the addition of the gooseberry on top. I really like eating something that feels homemade, so I feel that visually this pie speaks to me — especially being a crust girl.”
charmainesweetsstudio.com 115 Vanderhoof Ave., $24
RUNNER-UP: CRUST BAKING CO.
“This is really nice. I love the use of spices in this pie and the addition of the nuts and that textural element that you get. They’ve done a great job flavouring the pumpkin, highlighting and treating it well in the pie. It feels very festive and very fall.”
crustbakingco.ca 9610 Yonge St., Unit B1 $35
WANDA’S PIE IN THE SKY
While it’s a little too runny and watery, it still tastes nice. The colours are warm, rich and pumpkiny. I like the design of the crust, and that there’s a substantial amount of it, because I always like to eat the crust.”
wandaspieinthesky.com 287 Augusta Ave., $32
ELECTRIC LOVE BAKESHOP
“I like the texture! It’s all about the spices with this one. A lot of warm flavours are coming through. The pumpkin flavour is secondary to the warm spices, but it’s still really nice. I like the amount of crust because I just like a chunky crust.”
electriclovebakeshop.com 788 Marlee Ave., $30
SWEETIE PIE
“I find the crust on the bottom to be a little too soft, or maybe it’s too thin — I just want more. They did a nice job balancing the spices and highlighting the pumpkin flavour. The whipped cream is a nice addition, but I don’t think it’s
necessary.”
mysweetiepie.ca 1639 Bayview Ave., $26.99
PHIPPS DESSERTS
“Visually, the glazed look isn’t that appealing to me, and I find that it’s a little too soft. There’s a pumpkin purée texture coming through, and I’d like it to be a bit more firm. It’s very sweet, which isn’t a bad thing. This pie is less about the spice and more about the pumpkin. They really captured the pumpkin flavour.”
phippsdesserts.ca 1875 Leslie St., #21, $15.65
PUBLISHER’S CHOICE: LA ROCCA
This pie has a classic pumpkin pie filling made with fresh cream and a perfect amount of spice. The almond shortbread crust is crisp and flavourful, and this gorgeous wreath of seasonal leaves makes for
a rustic, festive effect.
laroccakitchen.com 2638 Yonge St., $39