Photo: Southern Baked Pie Facebook page[/caption]

Chocolate chess, strawberry, peach and blueberry pie are just a few of the favorites at Southern Baked Pie Company in Gainesville.

The local business, which features sweet and savory pies, was the vision of Gainesville native Amanda Wilbanks. Growing up in the kitchen with her mother, Amanda never dreamed she would use these skills to open her own pie shop. Little did she know how important this introduction to cooking would really be in her life.

Taught to prepare the perfect pie by her mother-in-law, the idea for her company came to fruition. Amanda first started selling pies out of her kitchen and at festivals in the area. She soon began shipping pies across the United States for retail sales and corporate gifts.

Her pies have created such a buzz that they are now sold locally and nationwide through online ordering; and her pie business was even featured in USA Today, Garden & Gun magazine and the Hallmark Channel, among many others.

Each pie is made fresh daily and features the freshest ingredients from local farmers including Jaemor Farms in Alto. The store also serves up Jittery Joes coffee from Athens to keep on the eat local theme. Amanda has opened locations in Gainesville, Alpharetta, Buckhead and soon in Vinings.

We are partial to the scrumptious chocolate chess pie but a recent review on the Southern Baked Pie Facebook page says, “The pies are out of this world. Love the sweet pies but the chicken pot pie for dinner is incredible.”

Stop in sometime and grab a slice of pie or a whole pie for a gathering and support our amazing local businesses.

Southern Baked Pie is located at 302 Broad St.Suite C in Gainesville. 706-499-5234. For more go to www.southernbakedpie.com.