Chef opens new SLO County pie shop — after losing her job and recovering from COVID
A new pie shop with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients is coming to Atascadero.
Bramble Pie Company plans to hold its soft opening at 5945 Entrada Ave. in mid-May with a grand opening in early June, according to owner Emilie Goldstein.
“I’m excited to have fun baking pies and make a living out of it,” Goldstein said.
The restaurant will serve a variety of sweet and savory pies, including fresh strawberry, raspberry streusel and chocolate peanut butter pies and shepherd’s and chicken pot pies.
Other menu items will include shortbread cookies, scones, espresso drinks and Negranti Creamery ice cream.
The business will also have a retail section where customers can shop for local goods.
Goldstein and her business partner, Brittany Champagne, both grew up in San Luis Obispo County. In fact, they attended preschool together about four blocks away from where Bramble Pie Company is opening.
Goldstein graduated from Atascadero High School. After attending California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, she returned to the Central Coast and worked in the restaurant and catering industries.
Goldstein worked at Big Sky Cafe in San Luis Obispo for 12 years and served as the executive chef for more than a year. She said the restaurant had a “huge emphasis” on using local ingredients, and now that’s now a major focus of hers.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Goldstein was the executive chef at Trumpet Vine Catering in Paso Robles. She said she “lost work because of the pandemic,” was furloughed from her job in March 2020 and then decided to move onto other endeavors in June.
Then, in July, she contracted COVID-19.
As she recovered from the virus, Goldstein developed a plan to open her own business.
Goldstein said Bramble Pie Company uses fresh, quality ingredients from San Luis Obispo County farmers. The restaurant’s menu will not stay the same each day, she said, because she plans to prioritize produce that is in season.
“It’s nice to be able to support other people in the community and also to know where the food is coming from,” Goldstein said. “I’m going to try to focus on getting as many organic ingredients as I can.”
Bramble Pie Company will tentatively be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
For information, visit bramblepiecompany.com.
This story was originally published May 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that Bramble Pie Company owner Emilie Goldstein was laid off from her position as executive chef of Trumpet Vine Catering. The error has been corrected.
