Like most kids, Chris Porter had pie on the brain from an early age. Visited by visions of everything from slices of cinnamon-dusted apple pie to the no-frills fruit pies that graced his lunchbox on special occasions, he felt the calling of the kitchen. These sweet dreams finally become a reality by adulthood, when Chris decided to turn his passion for pie making into a full-blown career. Armed with his recipes and baking techniques learned from his mother, Chris transferred from life as a television news reporter into the bustling role of pie-shop proprietor. Now the proud owner of A la Mode Pies, Chris and his team spend their days handcrafting a lineup of pies that have caught the attention of everyone from regular diners to the critics at the Seattle Times and City Arts.

At the shop, Chris takes a fresh approach to classic desserts, combining unique flavors into bourbon-butterscotch pies teamed with a vanilla-wafer crust to Mexican-chocolate mousse infused with a dash of cayenne pepper. The pie guy also doles out his signature LolliPies, which stuff apple-cinnamon, cherries-jubilee, or his Blue Hawaiian flavor into snack-ready silver-dollar crusts. To ensure every bite bursts with flavor, A la Mode’s team takes pains to find the best ingredients, filling each pie with organic and locally sourced herbs and fruit.

Along with admiring the delectable pies, diners are encouraged to feast their eyes on the shop’s award-winning decor, from the wood-paneled walls and chic lighting fixtures to the open kitchen framed by a “a beautiful dark wood bar where you can belly up and enjoy a slice," as highlighted by Rachel Hart for Seattle magazine.