Yogalife of Pi(e)
All images in this post by Dean Tumibay
It’s March 14, also known as “Pi Day” (3.14), and the Yogalife blog team is on a mission. Our goal? To fill our afternoon driving around downtown Edmonton, indulging in delicious pies to commemorate the day. We decided to do two, unconventional savory pies, and then sample two dessert pies, at two very different, but equally delectable locations. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. We encourage you to test out these sites, or email us at info@yogalifestudios.ca if you have pie recommendations of your own!
The Unconventional:
One spot that is equally delicious on the eyes as it is on our palettes is the Moth Plant-based Café. Located in the “Quarters” district of the downtown core, this gem of a location comes to our city from the same owners of the very popular vegan/vegetarian restaurant on Whyte avenue, Café Mosaics. Self-described as a plant-based haven, the Moth Café quickly became one of our target spaces when we found out that two delicious savory pies were part of their menu.
The Not-Chicken Pot Pie
It’s a tasty blend of root vegetables and mushrooms baked in a multi-grain, flaky crust. This “pie” is more reminiscent of a large pizza pocket than it is a traditional chicken pot-pie. Believe us when we say that you’re not missing real chicken when you take a bite out of this pie, as it’s full of flavor that satisfies any chicken-pot pie craving you might have.
The Curry Potato Pot Pie
If you love curry as much as our team does, this pie will hit all the right spots on our palette. It’s a bit spicy, a bit sweet, and is a full hearty meal of tasty potatoes tucked away in a multi-grain sleeping bag. Again, on the surface, this pie doesn’t look like your traditional potato pie, but it’s got all the flavor of a good curry, without being overpowering.
Our pick?
Between the two savory pies, which are both delicious, our vote goes to the Curry Potato Pot Pie. It was a close race, but the curry in the second option gave us just a bit more of that kick that we were craving. If you’re looking for something more subdued, give the Not-Chicken Pot Pie a go.
The Traditional:
When you ask any pie connoisseur where they go when they want a good, traditional, dessert pie, Vi’s for Pies is sure to come up as an option. Located in Glenora, this space was our second and final stop on our pie crawl. What were we in the mood for? We were searching for something rich and creamy, with a lot of flavor, to satisfy our sweet tooth. Did Vi’s hit the spot? Definitely. Not only were the portions generous, but the quality of the desserts was excellent, set up on the backdrop of a cozy little café.
The Coconut Cream Pie
Coconut lovers rejoice, because this pie is full of it. The cream is subtle, light, and not too sweet with a traditional, buttery crust. This pie is all about the texture, with the smoothness of the cream, the crunch of the crust, and the crispy coconut shavings sprinkled on top and mixed into the pie filling itself. For the pie lover looking for something light and not too overwhelming, this is a great option.
The Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cream Pie
The interesting thing about this pie is not so much the filling, but the crust, as it was made up of chocolate covered, puffed wheat. This pie was a stark contrast to the coconut cream slice, as it was very rich, much more dense, and very filling. This pie packs a punch, and is a great choice for you peanut-butter and chocolate lovers out there. This hits that spot and it hits it hard.
Our pick?
It was hard to not be impressed by the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cream Pie as it provided such a rich burst of flavors compared to the Coconut Cream Pie. If you’re looking for a dessert that really hits the spot, we felt that the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cream pie was the winner. However, if you’re not into your sweets being too sweet, Coconut Cream is a solid choice.
If you’re looking to celebrate Pi Day in the same manner our team did, check out these spots that we visited downtown. Again if you have suggestions for a good slice of pie, let us know through any one of our social media avenues (Facebook or Instagram) or send an email to info@yogalifestudios.ca. They both hit the mark in terms of quality of food and atmosphere!