A la Mode Pies, Seattle

Some of Chris Porter's best childhood memories come from the days when, in honor of a special occasion, his mother would bake her made-from-scratch frosted fruit pies and send one along to school with him in his lunch. Fueled by those memories, which he describes as "the nostalgic art form" of pie-making, Porter now honors his mother's delicious desserts as the owner of A la Mode Pies. Here, Chris and his team of bakers put their own spin on a number of classic pie styles; their attention to detail, as well as their reliance on natural ingredients over the additive-filled alternatives, has earned them praise form outlets including Seattle Magazine, The Seattle Times, and Puget Sound Business Journal.

• The Pies: Porter and his team maintain a menu of more than a dozen 9-inch pies, each of which draw upon inspiration from classic American desserts. The grasshopper pairs rich chocolate with cool creme de menthe, while the key lime harnesses the fruit's trademark tartness for a memorable flavor profile.
• The Innovations: Not hungry enough to eat an entire pie? A la Mode's kitchens also specialize in personal-sized sweets, from the stick-assited LolliPies to Pie Babies, pint-sized versions of the shop's bigger pies.
• The Cafes: A la Mode operates two locations in the Seattle area, each of welcome visitors for slices of morning quiche and a lunchtime repast of savory hand pies. The West Seattle location also serves a full range of beer, wine, and even boozy milkshakes.