Derek Blaquiere is affectionately becoming known as the Pie Man.
And he is introducing people to the savory world of England and Australia, one pie at a time.
“I’ve definitely been a lover of all pies from a very early age,” said Blaquiere, owner of Tucker’s Pie Co., a new online specialty food shop that makes handcrafted pies, quiches, and more.
The business was founded on the belief that there’s nothing like a homemade pie made with love and care, he said.
“Here in the states you have chicken pot pies and we elevated it to a greater experience,” Blaquiere said.
Each 14-ounce personal size pie is made-to-order by Blaquiere and a small culinary team and feature what they describe as unique gourmet flavors using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
“Growing up in England, pies are very much a part of our culture. When you go to any sporting event, instead of grabbing a hotdog or burger, you grab a pie,” said Blaquiere who moved to Australia at age 28 and experienced a pie culture bigger than that in England.
“You can grab a pie at a gas station. There’s lots of bakeries and chains, and they have this classic iconic pie available in every sporting venues,” he said. “When I thought of the business, I didn’t want a new category but it could be something American people are familiar with.”
Blaquiere describes his pies as a hybrid between a British and Aussie pie.
“Australian pies have a short crust on the bottom and puff pastry on top. English pies use the same or an all short crust. We use puff pastry for the entire pie. Pies are a great vessel to put anything into them,” he said.
Tucker Pie Co. offers four signature pies: classic chicken pot pie; chicken, leek, ham, and tarragon pie; steak and Guinness pie; and steak and red wine with caramelized onions.
Classic chicken is their top seller, with steak and red wine a close second. Each month, Blaquiere introduces a new pie.
Recently, the shepherd’s pie and the mac and cheese pulled pork became big sellers and the former, which features crunchy, grilled mashed potatoes on top, will be a permanent menu item in fall.
A vegetarian pie, with ingredients that change monthly, is also on the menu. He recently introduced a custom, build-your-own quiche.
“We thought quiche is something people crave as the weather warms up. You can pick whatever flavors, cheeses, protein, and vegetables that you want,” said Blaquiere.
In addition, traditional sides are available including mushy peas, onion gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes, along with caramelized apple and onion with roasted fennel sausage rolls. An espresso cheesecake with chocolate ganache rounds out the menu.
Another popular item is the Family Tucker Box that includes a choice of four pies, plus creamed potatoes, mushy peas, and onion gravy. A gluten-free pie is on the horizon.
Blaquiere said he brought along his craving for food from his British roots when he moved to the United States.
“I had a real desire to get a good pie,” he said, sampling pies wherever he could find them.
Some were average, some were terrible. With time on his hands, he decided to make his own, he said.
“I never thought I’d become a baker. Baking is a science and you have to be very exact with the ingredients. It was out of my wheelhouse, but I started on this journey,” said Blaquiere, has a successful career as a headhunter in the U.S. and Australia with various partners.
Plunging headlong, he embarked on the quest to find the right pie crust, experimenting with over 100 puff pastry recipes. “Finally, I got the right crust I wanted. Ours has a more flakier texture and is buttery yet firm enough to hold up to the meat and chicken fillings.”
Sharing the pies with family and friends, Blaquiere received positive feedback and encouragement to start a business. “I was just making pies for the fun of it, because I love pie,” he said, but after doing some research on baking companies he discovered some ex-Pats were doing well in the business, it inspired him to launch Tucker’s Pie Co. from a commercial kitchen in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.
The business is named in honor of Blaquiere’s mother, Bernadette Tucker.
“She was a phenomenal cook and started a cake baking and catering business in the U.K.,” said Blaquiere who was by her side as a 10-year-old helping her wherever needed in their home-based kitchen.
“I came home from school, rolled up my sleeves, and it was all hands on deck.” Today, he maintains that same mentality. “I do everything here from soup to nuts.” It’s also a family affair with his wife, Courtney, serving as chief tasting officer and the help of his two daughters for packaging and marketing.
“The most rewarding part is the feedback,” said Blaquiere who’s hearing the buzz about his pies in his hometown of Weston. He’s looking toward expanding his shipping options, getting into sporting venues, and possibly opening a brick-and-mortar store. “We’re introducing something new to people who love chicken pot pies and we’re hoping they will try something different. Right now, I’m loving what I’m doing and it’s resonating well.”
For more information and to order, visit: tuckerspie.com. Delivery is available in lower Fairfield County, including Weston, Easton, Wilton, Westport, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Redding, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, Norwalk, New Canaan, and Darien. You can also find Tucker’s Pie Co. at the Fairfield Famer’s Market on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October.
