An 82-year-old English pie-making machine and positive feedback via social media prompted a crusty career path for Will Miller and Becky Dochstader.

Not long after the couple moved from Prince George to Salmon Arm in July of this year, Dochstader shared a post on Facebook asking the following: 害羞草研究所淗ow does the Shuswap feel about handmade meat pies? We just moved here and we brought our antique pie press 害羞草研究所楬unty害羞草研究所� with us. We could possibly sell them online or bring them to the market, thoughts?害羞草研究所�

The post included photos of the 1941 lever-operated mechanical pie press (still produced in the UK by John Hunt Bolton), and of the traditional English-style meat pies produced by Miller and Dochstader. The response they received showed Salmon Arm was hungry for what they had to offer.

害羞草研究所淥ver night, 500 people commented and were like 害羞草研究所榶es, we want meat pies, make our meat pies害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Dochstader. 害羞草研究所淲ill and I were like, 害羞草研究所榃e should make a go at this,害羞草研究所� and then fast forward three weeks, we had chatted with Interior Health, we got our business licence, we got our name registered, everything. In two or three weeks we were up and running as a business, in Zest (Commercial Food Hub), making pies and were at the (Downtown Salmon Arm) Farmers害羞草研究所� Market before the end of the summer.害羞草研究所�

And so the couple害羞草研究所檚 new business, Holey Handpies, was born.

害羞草研究所淭his is a pie town too, that is another big thing,害羞草研究所� said Dochstader.

害羞草研究所淥h yeah, Shuswap Pie Company, Laura害羞草研究所檚 Pies 害羞草研究所� amazing fruit pies,害羞草研究所� added Miller, prompting the couple to share one reason for their recent move to Salmon Arm. Dochstader害羞草研究所檚 family live in the community and her mother, Denise, works at Laura害羞草研究所檚 Pies.

害羞草研究所淲e came to visit Becky害羞草研究所檚 family and we just fell in love with the town,害羞草研究所� said Miller.

害羞草研究所淵eah, it害羞草研究所檚 a real Hallmark town,害羞草研究所� added Dochstader. 害羞草研究所淚t really just has a different feeling than a lot of other towns that we visited. It害羞草研究所檚 small but there害羞草研究所檚 just so many community festivals and events害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎lso害羞草研究所� the people in this town have been so supportive, actively going out of their way to come to the farmers market or say 害羞草研究所榟i害羞草研究所� to us on the street.害羞草研究所�

Miller has an extensive culinary background and is a trained salumist (one who makes high-end charcuterie and sausages) as well as an entrepreneur. He害羞草研究所檚 an owner of Birch and Boar Charcuterie and Provisions in Prince George. Dochstader is an elementary school teacher, but has been employing her background in marketing and graphic design to promote Holey Handpies.

The couple害羞草研究所檚 current Holey offerings include their Black Pepper Beef Pie, an English Apricot Pork Pie (that includes sausage made by Miller) and, for a more Canadian fare, a Chive Cider Chicken Pie with a gravy flavoured with cider from Salmon Arm害羞草研究所檚 Northyards Cider Co.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 a Canadian girl through and through and I love chicken pot pie,害羞草研究所� added Dochstader, who said the pairing with Northyards led to a different flavour that she fell in love with 害羞草研究所� as have others. 害羞草研究所淚 think that害羞草研究所檚 probably our best seller.害羞草研究所�

The couple害羞草研究所檚 Holey Handpies have sold out a number of times at the farmers害羞草研究所� market, with some people taking home up to 12 pies at one time.

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害羞草研究所淚 was just amazed that people who have never tried our product are coming out and buying 12,害羞草研究所� said Dochstader.

Will understands the appeal. He said when he lived in England he would pick up a pork pie that 害羞草研究所測ou can literally throw in your pocket 害羞草研究所� you get on the tram and can eat some of it for breakfast.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淓very country in the Commonwealth has a meat pie standard based on the traditional English pies and we don害羞草研究所檛 in Canada,害羞草研究所� explained Miller. 害羞草研究所淲e have wonderful meat pies here, we have tourti猫re, we have shepherd害羞草研究所檚 pies and cottage pies害羞草研究所� those are all based a lot more on American kind of pies. Ireland, New Zealand and Australia have these huge meat pie industries. It害羞草研究所檚 their national pride. So we害羞草研究所檙e just trying to do a Canadian version of that here in Salmon Arm.害羞草研究所�

Dochstader and Miller have branched out with the introduction of a TV dinner-inspired dual pie package, a two-compartment tin that offers a savoury meal on one side and a sweet dessert on the other. One has the chicken pie paired with a brown sugar anise blueberry pie. The other pairs the beef pie with a balsamic strawberry pie. The combos are separate but are baked together.

Looking ahead, Miller said the plan is to introduce a pie of the month, starting with a vegetarian option. Dochstader also sees a place for smaller pies that could be packed as student lunches.

害羞草研究所淏eing an elementary school teacher, I see the struggle every day of parents making easy quick lunches for kids,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 would personally love to do little hand pies for kids that could be eaten cold. A parent could pull out a pack of five from the freezer and could pack one every day for a kid害羞草研究所檚 lunch.害羞草研究所�

Holey Handpies are currently available in Grillers Meats, at the Downtown Salmon Arm Farmers害羞草研究所� Market on Saturdays, and at Eagle Bay Mercantile. For more information, visit holeyhandpies.com.

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