Ever since Sandy Poehnelt started her pie business two years ago, she’s learned how people bond over a slice of pie. “Everybody we meet has a pie memory,” said Poehnelt, owner of and baker at The Right Slice. “That just
Ever since Sandy Poehnelt started her pie business two years ago, she’s learned how people bond over a slice of pie.
“Everybody we meet has a pie memory,” said Poehnelt, owner of and baker at The Right Slice. “That just really opened my eyes. Pie is comfort food. Everyone has a memory from grandma or mom, or a holiday, and pie is always involved somewhere. That’s been really neat for people to share that with us.”
Poehnelt’s favorite pie memory involves her grandmother’s pumpkin pie, which is offered at her Puhi location.
“This is one recipe I haven’t changed at all,” she said.
The petite baker recalls her grandmother’s pumpkin pie was the only pie her grandfather would eat and the hard time her grandfather would give for eating only the filling and not the crust.
Customers can enjoy Poehnelt’s grandmother’s pumpkin pie recipe, or any of the other 40 flavors on the menu at her brick and mortar business located in the Puhi Industrial Park in Lihu‘e.
The bakery opened this past August after the success Poehnelt had selling pies at community events.
Her bakery stands out compared to the other businesses lining Haleukana Street. A pink “open” sign with a giant slice of pie slathered with a generous amount of whip cream is sure to welcome any hungry travelers with a sweet tooth.
Inside, the bakery offers a cafe-like atmosphere, offering slices of pie and cups of coffee to be enjoyed on the lanai situated among a lush a garden filled with ti leafs, butterfly plants and a colorful garden of yellow, purple and red flowers.
The No. 1 seller is mango lilikoi pie, followed by a rich and gooey chocolate coconut macaroon and blueberry pina colada. The lemon pie is Poehnelt’s personal favorite.
“There’s so many, it’s hard to keep track,” she said of her recipes.
Poehnelt and her staff dream up the majority of their recipes.
“We have several farmers at the markets we work at that deliver right to the bakery. If they have something fun or in excess, they ask us if we want to try.”
The result has been grapefruit, zucchini and mountain apple pies.
“One that alludes me yet is the breadfruit, the ‘ulu,” she said. “That’s one I really want to come up with some good recipes for because it’s so abundant and it’s so nutritious for you.”
Recently, Poehnelt has added pot pies to her menu. She offers four different ones daily — a classic chicken, Shepherd’s, a vegetarian option and a rotating meat option. If you call an hour ahead of time, she’s happy to pop it in the oven for you to take home.
Poehnelt also offers gluten-free and no sugar added pies for customers who call in ahead of time.
“My No. 1 priority is maintaining the quality,” she said. “We don’t use equipment. We make all of our pie dough by hand in small batches. We spend a lot of hours every week making the dough. The deep dish pies, the baby pies, we roll those all by hand, and there’s a lot of time going into the dough making.”
In the coming weeks, Poehnelt plans on offering take and bake pies, and after the holidays she will be hosting pie tastings where customers can sample new pie recipes she is experimenting with.
In an effort to keep pie tins out of the landfill, Poehnelt also offers her pies in glass dishes with a $10 deposit, which is refunded upon return.
“We are so thankful the community has supported us. I know we are luxury product. Pie is not a necessity.”
The Right Slice is located at 1543 Haleukana St. in Lihu‘e. The bakery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. In addition, Poehnelt’s pies can be found from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at the Waipa Farmers Market; 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Kukui‘ula Gourmet Market in Po‘ipu; 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays at the Hanapepe Art Festival; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday’s at the Kaua‘i Community College Market on Saturdays.
Visit www.rightslice.com for more information or for any change in market schedules.
