We had the good fortune of connecting with Amilea Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amilea, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Village Hand Pies started when the founders both lost jobs at the beginning of the pandemic. What else can an unemployed chef and baker do but feed people? We walked around the neighbourhood passing our delicious pies to our friends. It was a way to say, ‘We care. We love you.’ when we couldn’t be with our friends and loved ones. Friends started sharing pies with their friends and the business was born. In December of 2020, we held our first pop-up event at Batch Brewing Company and its’ been a whirlwind of hand pie selling ever since.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Food is art. Food is love. Food is hard. Working in food service remains one of the most difficult career choices there is. The hours are very long. The pay – though getting better slowly – is marginal. The conditions can be tough. Many people think that those who work in food are unskilled, under-educated lessor humans. Drop-outs who can’t get a career doing something better. Sure, there are the few that end up as Celebrity Chefs that are spared judgment but most don’t stop to think about the army of people that it takes to bring you good food – farmers, grocers, prep cooks, line cooks, bussers, dishwashers, sanitation workers. The great people who bring food to your table – every single one of them – are artists.

We love working with local growers and suppliers. It means that our menu rotates weekly and there is always something exciting for us to work with. Our commitment to local resources wherever possible has allowed us to maintain a steady supply chain throughout our time in business. So far it has allowed us to maintain steady prices as well.

We are in the thick of trying to navigate how to grow a very small food business into something that can sustain our family and remain a joyful outlet for us. It’s very difficult and we have in the last few months watched many other small business owners we admire make the painful decision to shut down operations. We are hopful that we can endure during this time of high inflation.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends come to visit we love to take people to Belle Isle to wander the trails and visit the Aquarium and the Conservatory. Pack up a picnic and find a spot by one of the ponds or along the beach. It’s a Detroit must-see! We love to spend time at the Detroit Institute of Arts – drawing in the galleries and enjoying a snack and a drink at Kresge Court.

Eastside we love to sit canalside at Coriander Kitchen and enjoy the breeze with amazing seasonal food and cocktails. Graham is a former chef at Marrow and we recommend it to anyone who comes to town. After dinner wander on down to Two Birds and have a nightcap! If you’re feeling tropical find your way over to Lost River and have one of their fantastic tropical concoctions!

A visit to Midtown would not be complete without a stop at Castalia. This amazing bar pairs cocktails with aromatics to give you a full sensory experience.

Make sure you get to New Center. You can start your morning at Milwaulkee Cafe. Spend the afternoon exploring the art deco showpiece that is the Fisher Building, have dinner at Freya – a must-visit new restaurant and end your night at Dragonfly.

On the Northside of town, get to The Congregation – a restored church turned community space and cafe The Congregation has something for everyone. The park across the street offers a place for little ones to burn off some energy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Sarah Anthony. Sarah is one of the most amazing humans. She is an award-winning documentary film producer and champion of Village Hand Pies. Without her encouragement and support, Village Hand Pies would not exist.

Website: villagehandpies.com

Instagram: villagehandpies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064085890742

Image Credits
All Photos taken by Amilea and Graham Mitchell

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