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Peasant Pies Make For Good, Healthy Eats
By Alan Teo
Staff Writer
Peasant Pies is proof-positive that fast food does not have to be junk food.
Born of a business model combining nutrition, value and a fun way to eat in
take-out style, Peasant Pies is a completely unique food establishment in the
Inner Sunset, tucked just outside the bustling area of Irving Street, near 12th
Avenue.
Though roughly the size of a McDonald's cheeseburger, Peasant Pies are
anything but a mass-produced burger. Dubbed the "hand-held meal,"
a Peasant Pie looks much like a petite chicken pot pie. The savory pies are
hand-wrapped in a crisp, hearty whole wheat crust and baked early every morning.
Inside they are stuffed with a carefully chosen selection of vegetables, meat
and seafood fillings. With more variety of flavors than pot pies, and a much
healthier nutrition profile than calzones, Peasant Pies really have no comparison.
With its first store opened in 1993 in Noe Valley, founders Ali Keshavarz and
Gérard BuuLong's shops have withstood the test of time. The shops
have a strong and established customer base; according to Keshavarz, over 80
percent of customers are repeat customers. UCSF's Mission Bay may host
a third store, as Peasant Pies is still under consideration for a slot at the
new campus.
Buulong, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef provided the original inspiration for Peasant
Pies, having been familiar with a similar local specialty of the French port
town of Sète, which has developed over the years a reputation for creating
delectable octopus, tomato and onion-filled pies called tielle. Together with
Keshavarz, a gastronomist at heart with a Master's degree in organic chemistry,
the two partners developed the concept, ultimately deciding on a pie shape and
came up with a medley of flavors to please all palates.
Keshavarz prides Peasant Pies on being a casual, friendly place. "You
can call ahead and ask that pies be saved for you," he said in a phone
interview, explaining that the stores typically sell out of the pies toward
the end of the day but that employees will gladly set aside your favorite pie
at your behest. The Inner Sunset location — which opened 10 years ago
— typically makes between 200 and 275 pies daily.
"We're not corporate guys," says Keshavarz. "We don't
wear suits and ties," he laughs and continues, "We're in there
at five in the morning making the dough."
Pies are reasonably priced at $2.55, or $2.35 each for two or more. They are
ideal for a healthy lunch on-the-go, but they are open early for breakfast and
hours extend into the evenings hours if one has a supper craving too. For those
unable to make it to one of their two locations, Peasant Pies can also be found
at Whole Foods, Rainbow Grocery, Mollie Stone's and other gourmet supermarkets.
The menu of savory pies contains 10 varieties, with numerous vegetarian and
vegan options. Generally, pies contain about 300 calories with little fat or
cholesterol and substantial amounts of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
They do contain substantial amounts of sodium, between 20 and 50 percent of
recommended daily allowances. For the indulgent, there are also sweet pies that
are similar to fruit tarts. Even more, they offer a Pie of the Month to keep
the menu fresh.
Here is a review of a several of my favorite savory pies on the regular menu:
Spicy Clam Tomato Sauce
Harkening back to the roots of the pies, this is the one seafood item on the
menu.
Curried Potato Yam
This vegan option contains red potatoes, yams, scallions and ginger mixed with
a perfect proportion of Indian curry powder.
Zucchini Cheese Mushroom
This item is absolutely brimming full of veggies. Fresh mushrooms, zucchini
and Monterey Jack cheese are combined with basil, garlic and olive oil for added
flavoring.
Basque Beef
The latest edition to the menu, it is also the only pie to contain red meat.
It tastes like a rich stew — with beef, potato and tomatoes on the inside
— but has no sogginess to it thanks to the crisp, fresh oven-baked crust.
Peasant Pies is one of those establishments one might never venture into due
to its unfortunately odd name. That would be a shame because Peasant Pies boasts
a bevy of delectable edible treats. Try Peasant Pies and open your taste buds
to deliciously healthy fast food.
Alan Teo is a fourth-year medical student.
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