Ryan Campbell, the acclaimed executive chef at Il Covo has launched his latest venture––peanut butter pies.
An homage to the pies his mother Gerda made for him growing up, and whom the pies are named after, Campbell says they are a refined version of the ones he loved as a kid.
“My girlfriend and I were cooking dinner in the summertime this year and she asked me what I wanted for dessert,” says Campbell. “I said sure, let’s try and make a peanut butter pie.”
“She made one and I thought, shit, maybe I could try and refine that a little bit and I did.
Campbell, along with his girlfriend and another friend, were able to craft a recipe after further refining the pie, which eventually transitioned into launching a business around one item––a decadent but casual peanut butter treat, called Gertie’s.
He says the opportunity to launch the business was in part due to, as far as he knows, no one making this type of pie in Canada.
“It’s so damn good, it’s so damn popular, why has nobody done it?”
Gertie’s presence on social media is limited, seeing as they have just launched, but is also due to the volume of inquiries Campbell has received about the pies.
At the moment, Campbell is only selling to select suppliers, but will open sales to the growing crowd ready to get their hands on his pies.
He has also been giving them away to friends for feedback.
Campbell is no stranger to the food scene in Toronto by any means. He has held top positions at famed Toronto spots Buca Osteria & Bar as well as its Yorkville expansion. Still, he was incredibly dumbfounded from the support he received for Gertie’s.
“I’ve never had anyone message me for food the way they’re messaging me right now for pies,” Campbell says.
The process of starting up Gertie’s has been fast-paced to say the least. Right now, Campbell says he’s looking to “blow-up” this business.
Gertie’s is currently being run out of Est Restaurant, commanded by renowned chef Sean MacDonald, a friend of Campbell’s. Down the line, he plans to operate out of his own ghost kitchen and eventually a brick and mortar shop.
Properly designed packaging for the pies is already in the works too, a feat he says wouldn’t be possible without the help of his girlfriend Sara.
“I made a logo for Gertie’s and my girlfriend just tore it apart,” he says. “She’s a huge reason why this thing has done so well so far.”
The logo features a pop-art styled photo of Campbell’s dutch mother from the year 1971––a faithful way to honour the pie’s origins and Campbell’s inspirations.
Campbell has always thought that one day in the future, he’ll exchange the fast-paced, intense life behind the line in the bustling kitchens of Toronto for a casual café where he can make coffee for others.
“Maybe I’ll just hang out in my café all day,” he says. “If I can just sell pies and drink coffee all day, I’ll be happy.”
For now, Campbell is focused on building out the brand, and continues to be curious of how far his peanut butter pies can go.
You can stay updated with Gertie’s through their Instagram and their forthcoming website.
