Eat More Pie

The Sweet and Savory Pie Company offers so many delicious flavors, even pie skeptics will become converts

By Geri Dietze | May 30, 2026

How do you like your pie? Sweet and fruity or savory and comforting? The smart money goes for both, because these creations from the Sweet and Savory Pie Company don’t stay long in the display case.

Sweet and Savory opened in Alanson in 2022 in the former House of Pies, with an offshoot in Petoskey in 2025. (The Alanson site also serves as the production kitchen.) The eatery was founded by a couple of skilled hobby bakers who baked for family and friends long before they chose it as a full-time profession.

Co-owners and spouses Deon Benito-Cardillo and Oreste Cardillo talked to Northern Express and shared some, but not all, of their bakers’ secrets.

The Road to Michigan

Deon Benito-Cardillo hails from Cape Town, South Africa, and had a long professional career in corporate human resources, including 10 years in England. Brooklyn-born Oreste Cardillo was a formally trained metalsmith with a background in fine jewelry retailing. Seeking a change, he moved to Cape Town, eventually meeting and marrying Deon.

The pair’s design and management skills translated nicely into the pie business. For Oreste, design and pie-making “ask for technical skill, consistency, visual balance, and an understanding of how small choices affect the finished product, [with] both rooted in the same values: artistry, discipline, and care for the finished experience.”

Adds Deon, “HR and running a pie business may seem…very different, but the people side of any business is enormous. [A] positive workplace, [clear] expectations, managing schedules, supporting staff, and [promoting] teamwork…are all essential to day-to-day operations.”

In 2021, in part due to COVID, the pair moved to Chicago and set up shop in the thriving East Lakeview neighborhood on the city’s North Side. The result was Empanada Mama and the Pie Guy, a small, take-out-only storefront dealing in their signature empanadas, the half-moon shaped pastries filled with savory meats and cheeses, and their delicious pies. (Yelp reviewers practically swooned over their favorites.)

Empanada Mama did very well during COVID’s restaurant disruptions, but they outgrew their space at the same time they were developing a growing attachment to northern Michigan and the possibility of building a life there amid the beauty, peace, and the sense of community. And so they left Chicago for Alanson and began baking again.

In the Kitchen

The first step of any good pie is the crust, and you should know that the guys at Sweet and Savory have spent years perfecting it.

“We…[experimented] with recipes, refining techniques, and learning what made certain pastries and pies really memorable. Looking back, those early years of baking for family and friends gave us the foundation,” says Deon.

“We pay close attention to both texture and flavor, which means we place great importance on high-quality ingredients,” he adds. “For example, we use a special butter that’s richer in milkfat and has a creamier consistency.” And, he continues, “The texture has to be balanced just right—flaky, tender, and sturdy enough to support the filling without becoming heavy. [It can] … seem simple, but in reality, it requires a lot of discipline and consistency.”

The resulting crust has a deep golden sheen which speaks for itself: Someone cared enough to make it the best.

The finished products are “artisanal with a rustic spirit.” “There’s something inviting about a pie that looks clearly made by hand—beautiful, but approachable. That balance reflects our broader style as bakers: thoughtful and detail-oriented, while still warm, generous, and rooted in comfort,” Deon says.

And, it goes without saying that the Cardillos source top tier ingredients from a coterie of local and regional providers, paying special attention to the seasonal bounty found during Michigan’s growing season.

“Using local ingredients…allows us to highlight the quality of what farmers and producers in the region are growing.” But even past the growing season, the pair remains focused on “quality, seasonality, and…ingredients that align with our standards,” says Deon.

On the Menu

Ready to eat? Patrons can purchase on-site or submit orders several days to a week in advance for holidays, busy seasons, or for large orders, and the team at Sweet and Savory will always try to fill special orders to personalize a celebration or occasion. (Do remember that summer often requires the production of hundreds of pies daily, so ordering early is a must.)

On the sweet side, we dare you to choose just one option: Fruit pies, made with at least three pounds of fresh organic filling, include Apple, Classic Cherry, Peach Raspberry, Four-berry, and Strawberry Rhubarb. There are also Key Lime, Chocolate Silk, and Black Bottom Lemon Pie, anchored with house-made chocolate ganache made with only “the best dark chocolate.” (Some flavors are available by the slice.)

Believe it or not, that is not a complete list. Oh, and don’t forget cookies: Classic Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Macadamia White Chocolate, and Macadamia Chocolate and Coconut; or choose Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, and Kitchen Sink (which speaks for itself). And, if this doesn’t move you, there is also a gorgeous Carrot Cake.

A savory favorite is the South African Curried Beef Pie, based on the Bobotie. Patrons also love the Steak and Guinness pie, an Irish tradition with quality cuts of beef slow-cooked in a dark gravy made with Guinness stout, onions, and root vegetables, topped with a golden crust. Classic Chicken, BBQ Pork Mac & Cheese, Bacon Mac & Cheese, Vegetable Curry, and Butter Chicken Curry are other choices. Customers also rave about the three-cheese Lobster Mac & Cheese, with a very generous portion of premium North East lobster.

The business cannot ship products at this time, so plan on coming north to try them in person. Catering, for small to medium groups, is possible, as long as the bakers know they can maintain the same level of “freshness, quality, and presentation that customers expect from us in the shop.”

Find The Sweet and Savory Pie Company at 4577 Oden Road in Alanson (231-347-6525) or in D&W Plaza at 1147 US-31 N in Petoskey (231-622-8822). sspiecompany.com