Mt. Hood Pie Company continues sweet legacy of Oregon Candy Farm posted on 03/01/2023
When Alex and Aligra Pavich bought the Oregon Candy Farm
property ten years ago, the pair basically started from scratch to create a
business. From the walk-in freezer to the coolers and just about everything in
between, the entrepreneurs waded through red tape to bring everything up to
code and into the 21st century.
“We basically redid the whole thing,” Alex said. “It just
took us years to do that. It was just so outdated. It needed an overhaul, more
than just a fresh coat of paint.”
The pair opened the Sandy Commissary Kitchen, a shared
kitchen for small businesses to use by the hour or the day, in 2019 and have
now launched their latest endeavor, the Mt. Hood Pie Company. And just like their
approach to their investment in their property, these pies are all made from
scratch.
Their selection includes traditional favorites, including a
Hood apple, pumpkin, key lime and pecan pies, while Alex noted they also
specialize in cream-based pies, such as banana cream, chocolate peanut butter,
coconut cream and a range of berries, from blueberry cream to cherry cream. He
also noted that new flavors of pies that aren’t available elsewhere are going
to appear on their menu, including an Oreo mint pie, similar to a grasshopper
pie, in time for “pi day” (March 14, the date which mirrors the math constant
of the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter) and for St. Patrick’s
Day.
“I’m just experimenting all the time,” Alex said. “That’s my
goal, high end pie.”
Pies can be purchased online, with delivery and pick up
options, as well as a growing number of area restaurants and food purveyors,
including Timberline Meat Market, White’s Meat Market, Cooper’s Wine Bar and
the Skyway Bar and Grill.
Meanwhile, Alex noted that the Sandy Commissary Kitchen has
found its niche, with a number of regular clients utilizing the space to
prepare food, wash dishes and more. Alex, who ran a food cart selling mini
donuts in Portland more than ten years ago and used a commissary kitchen at the
time, noted that it can be especially challenging for people running food carts
and other startups to accomplish everything in such a small space.
“Not all of these businesses can afford the (equipment), all
the stuff you need to do basic business as a food maker,” he said.
Alex noted that back when the pair bought the Oregon Candy
Farm property, which was for decades an institution that drew countless people
to enjoy its sweets, the timing was right as they looked to get out of Portland.
He added that they’ve cleaned up the property, making
walking trails and even revitalizing a pair of trout ponds that they enjoy with
their two young children.
“Now our kids have a place to play,” Alex said.
The Mt. Hood Pie Company and the Sandy Commissary Kitchen
are located at 48620 Hwy. 26 in Sandy. For more information, visit
www.mthoodpiecompany.com and www.sandycommissarykitchen.com.
To reach the Mt. Hood Pie Company by phone, call
503-482-8121, and to reach the Sandy Commissary Kitchen by phone, call
503-668-5149.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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