Pie News

Sky is the limit with homey new pie shops opening in Dallas-Fort Worth

Help yourself to some pie.

Photo courtesy of Buttermilk Sky Pie

Aside from a few home-cooking spots, Dallas-Fort Worth still mostly comes up short on pie, but a small chain from Tennessee is bringing help. Called Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, the concept made its local debut in 2016 with a branch in Colleyville, and has three more locations in the works for Frisco, Allen, and Fort Worth.

The new CEO is Craig Moore, former president and CEO of CiCi's Pizza, who more recently was chairman of Nothing Bundt Cakes, which he sold in 2016.

"I'm not the kind of guy who sits around," Moore says. "And I always want to be involved with high-quality things. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop is high-quality pies, made from scratch daily."

The company was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2012, by Scott and Meredith Layton, who based their menu on family recipes. The couple made a good showing on Cooking Channel's Sugar Showdown, which they won. There are now eight locations, including one in Georgia and one in Midland, Texas.

Their lineup of pies includes apple, pecan, coconut cream, chocolate meringue, and a special called I-40 with pecans, chocolate chips, and toasted coconut, folded into a smooth pecan pie filling.

Seasonal pies include lemon icebox and strawberry pie. Specials might include a buttermilk pie with blackberries, or a chocolate-mint brownie pie. They also do thumbprint cookies with creamy fillings.

They say their name "buttermilk sky" refers to a Southern term describing a cloudy sky with the clabbered appearance of buttermilk.

The Allen location will open in July at 1008 W. McDermott Dr. The Frisco location opens later in the fall at the Shops at Starwood, at the corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Lebanon Road — "a great primo spot," Moore says. The Fort Worth location will be at the Shops at Clearfork, and will also open in the fall.

"I'm not a big sweets person, which is funny," he says. "But one thing I enjoy about this is the sharing relationship activity it brings. Pies are something people have for dessert or bring for gifts and special treats. They're involved with celebration, with people gathering around together. That’s fun."

desserts openings

Stir Fry News

Mom-and-pop Asian chain from Austin makes Dallas debut in McKinney

Fire Bowl

A small Asian chain from Austin has entered the Dallas market: Called Fire Bowl Cafe, it's a small chain that has opened its first DFW location in McKinney, at 4060 W. University Dr. #300, in a new shopping center west of US-75.

Fire Bowl Cafe was founded by husband-and-wife Gigi Lee and Daniel Pao in 1996 with a focus on customizable bowls prepared in sizzling woks. They have four locations in Austin and one in Colorado.

Bringing the concept to McKinney is Dallas-based hospitality group DLC Restaurant Holdings (Firo Pizza, Craft Pies Pizza, Desperados), according to a release.

“We are thrilled to bring Fire Bowl Café to McKinney and introduce our unique dining experience to the wonderful community here,” says CEO Mike Daniel in a statement. “Our mission is to ensure that every customer leaves satisfied and happy, and we can’t wait to share our passion for fresh, customizable Asian cuisine with our new neighbors in North Texas."

To give it local flavor, they've partnered with Julian Rodarte, who co-founded Beto & Son, the Mexican restaurant at Trinity Groves in west Dallas, and also served as Trinity Groves' CEO. He was briefly executive chef at COSM at Grandscape and is currently culinary director for Dee Lincoln Concepts.

The menu has a Pei-Wei vibe, featuring a mashup of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, with favorites like edamame, spring rolls, crab rangoon, pad Thai, pot stickers, and lettuce wraps.

There are noodle and rice bowls, topped with vegetables and choice of protein; and a make-it-your-way stir-fry where you choose from proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, tossed in a wok with vegetables, then combine it with your choice of "carb" — noodles, brown or white rice — and a wide selection of sauces, from teriyaki to spicy peanut to classic Chinese.

Prices are $12-$14. They do not currently serve alcohol, but have plans for it at a future date.

openings