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“Pie and Happiness” is both our slogan and lifestyle. Every day is a fun one in the Pie Piper kitchen. And that fun spills over to the dining area, goes with you as takeout, and visits you as delivery. Just try a slice of pie and try not to smile. Each pie, cake, and donut has a story to tell. Each new creation starts with “How can we bring someone an even bigger smile?” Whether celebrating something big, brightening up a day at the office, or just deciding that a Tuesday is Pie day, our Pipers and Donuteers are here to share our stories and inspirations with you in the most delicious way possible. |
The Pie Piper was born in early 2014 at the Howick Village Saturday market when the mother-daughter team of Danielle and Suzanne Butler thought “Hey, pies are awesome; Aucklanders are awesome; what if we get a stall and…” And wow were they right! Kiwis lined up for American-style dessert pies, and the duo got more and more successful: pie after pie, market after market. Blueberry pie, strawberry pie, apple…. Auckland was now Pie Land! In 2017, The Pie Piper & Doornuts opened its door on Auckland’s iconic K'Rd as the flagship store, making Auckland the pie capital of NZ. Going beyond dessert pie, the mother and daughter created an entire donut brand, Doornuts, with made-from-scratch donuts that are not just delicious but creative in their unique flavor combinations and toppings. Add to that the most delicate and beautiful cakes, danishes, pastries, and the world’s first gourmet cinnamon rolls and you have the current Pie Piper. Well, almost… there is now also an actual Diner Menu, with Mac-n-Cheese, fried chicken, burgers, and everything else that makes the North American diner experience a timeless classic. Fast forward to today: With Suzanne off to live in Canada (but still contributing ideas), Danielle is now joined by the most amazing team of Pipers and Donuteers. And they are all needed: the demand is so big that, on 14 Feb 2019, they opened also at The Eatery, East Ridge, Mission Bay (joining other really cool eateries). Double the fun. But why stop there? The Pie Piper visits farmers’ markets, hosts its own festivals (like the biggest Loaded Mac-N-Cheese festival around), and has all sorts of fun contests for pie and donut lovers. And yes, there is delivery too! (And pickup.) Even with two locations, we hand-make all our pies and treats from scratch. Every day. So each one looks and tastes unique — it’s made just for you. This is not at all efficient, but our customers swear by the resulting taste (and look). Danielle's was practically born with a slice of pie on her plate. |
Danielle visiting family in Michigan, USA. 1970 |
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She grew up in Southern California and came to NZ in the late 1970's when her parents, Robert and Janet (a Kiwi), moved the family to Auckland to be closer to Janet's Mum. After high school, Danielle moved back to Southern California with her sister to attend university, where she met her husband, and then they boomeranged back to NZ to start a family. |
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Back in New Zealand, Janet got an even bigger garden (thanks, Robert), with numerous fruit and nut trees. So with Kiwi ingredients and American pie skills, Janet got so creative with her pies that they became an instant hit at events. Fast forward to the present day, when Janet has passed the Pie torch onto Danielle. And the pies are as popular as ever. Here at the Pie Piper, we continue family traditions. We use as many New Zealand ingredients as we can. We make the most of the seasons, and what's available on the local market. So don’t be shocked to see Danielle scouring the local berry farms and at the Avondale Market checking out produce. And stop by either our K’rd or The Eatery store to taste the results (hint: mouthwatering). |
Now Danielle is passing on her love of pie, cakes, and other North American treats to Aucklanders and all New Zealand one bake at a time. |
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Driven by Danielle's vision of being the best North American-style bakery around, The Pie Piper & Doornuts is a shared effort of a lot of wonderful people, who run the bakery and the storefronts with passion, creativity, and infectious fun. |
Renee (pictured right) was our first Marketeer. Renee made sure that our market stalls were in the right place and with the right treats. She encouraged Danielle and Suzanne to get involved in special events. Basically, Renee brought her marketing skills to Piper and helped the business grow and create a bigger pie for Kiwis to enjoy (so to speak). |
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Meet Chef Francisco Vargas, Head Pastry Chef at The Pie Piper & Doornuts, nickname 'Pancho'. |
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Meet Chef Montserrat Schweitzer. We call her the 'Donut Queen' but she's the boss of our Piper HQ team, managing customer service, events, special orders, and custom work. |
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The Pie Piper's slogan, “Pie and Happiness,” is as much about our team as it is about our food. It is also about every customer: whether you sit down for a meal, do takeout, get a delivery, or catch us at a farmers’ market — you’re in for a slice of happiness.
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