New Pots And Pies Bakery In Crystal Lake Sells Out Daily Since Opening

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A mother-daughter duo has opened a unique new business in downtown Crystal Lake that specializes in dessert pies and pot pies. And it seems like Crystal Lake is on board with their concept as Auriane Uglade and her daughter, Xante Garmendia-Uglade, have been selling out of their pies every day since opening Pots and Pies Bakery on Oct. 27.

"We have been very appreciative of the overwhelming response," she said.

They also have been hustling to keep up.

Auriane Uglade has been working in the kitchen daily to prep the pies, which are all made from scratch with fresh ingredients at their small cafe at 67 E. Woodstock St. Her daughter runs the register and handles the front of the business, which is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday.

"Our first week was really hairy. I totally under-estimated the response and I did not think we would sell out," Uglade said Wednesday. "I thought I had enough products and supplies for 1.5 weeks to two weeks and was nearly out in a day."

Since then, she's become more efficient and organized, quadrupled her supply orders and made hundreds of pies that are quickly getting snatched up by local residents.

"I've made 100 pies this morning, and we are almost sold out already," Uglade said at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Some of her pies include a chicken pot pie, blackberry lime ginger pie, braised beef short rib pie and an avocado toast breakfast pie.

For Uglade, it's the savory, rich fillings that make the pies.

"For me, a pie is only as good as what it holds," Uglade said. "The crust has to be there, obviously. No one wants a cardboard crust. But it's the filling that does it."

She's leaning on her 30 years of experience as a chef for restaurants, including her time at Port Edward in Algonquin as well as her apprenticeships early on at two of the top restaurants in Spain, to help mold new ideas for the pies.

Her time in Ireland, as well as her experience as a chef helping to build the menu for Galway Tribes Irish Pub and Ale House in Frankfort, helped her come up with her Irish chicken curry pot pie.

Her grandchildren — her daughter's 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son — have also helped inspire a couple kids-centric pot pies, which include a sloppy Joe and cheddar, peanut butter and jelly and a Mac and cheese pie with hot dogs.

On average, Uglade makes about 150 pies per day, but has made more than 230 some days. The business is starting to prep for the holidays and is taking orders online for its 9-inch pies.

Uglade says she believes word-of-mouth and Facebook have lead to their business's success. Her daughter has been updating their Facebook page, and people have also been giving the business props over social media.

"We have had people share their responses to our pies on Facebook. And then they are coming in and trying more and sharing again," she said.