Interview with Maya-Camille Broussard

I love pies and any kind of baked goods. Below is my interview with Maya-Camille Broussard, the founder and creator of Justice of the Pies, a bakery based in Chicago. From their website:

Formed as an L3C, Justice of the Pies considers itself to be a social mission in a culinary art form. Our goal is to positively impact the lives of those who work with us.

Eat some pie (or any goodie of your choice) and enjoy the interview!!

 

 

I’ve been an admirer of Justice of the Pies ever since I first heard about it because the name really resonated with me. You do more than sell pies—a commitment to social justice and being involved in your local community is part of your company’s mission. Can you tell me more about the origins of your company and what impact you want to make on the world through pies? 

Justice of the Pies is a bakery that specializes in sweet and savory pies, quiches and tarts. I established Justice of the Pies in honor of my late father, Stephen J. Broussard. Steve, who dubbed himself the Pie Master, was a criminal defense attorney with a passion for baking and eating anything made with a crust! 

Justice of the Pies was created to celebrate his love for pies and to honor his belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to reform their lives. Justice of the Pies is committed to delivering amazing pies, quiches and tarts while positively impacting the lives of those who work with us.

On your website you mention that your father Stephen J. Broussard was the Pie Master. Did you grow up in a baking family? What are some of your strongest food memories as a young child?

I did grow up in a family of bakers and home cooks. My dad often baked quiches on weekend mornings. My aunts and I would bake muffins or pound cake together. I always baked cookies, brownies or made rice treats on the weekends as a kid. My mom made peach cobbler for the holidays or for barbecues and it always disappeared too quickly for me. So, I learned her recipe so that I can make it whenever I had a taste for it.

Congratulations on being in Bake Squad, a new baking competition on Netflix that premiered on August 11th! I watched the entire series in 2 days. You are dubbed the “flavor fanatic” of the squad and shared during the show about how your hearing disability helped sharpen your other senses. Can you share more about how your early years helped you develop an eye for color and presentation and a palate for flavor and texture? 

I have an extremely strong sense of smell. When you lose one sense, the brain adapts by giving more sensory information to another sense. This has allowed me to identify distinctly different flavors and aromas while cooking.

What did you enjoy the most about being in Bake Squad? Were there any accommodations you needed while taping the show?  

I enjoyed exercising my creative muscles and participating in a bit of friendly competition. The cast and crew all wore clear/see through masks.

Many entrepreneurs have struggled during the pandemic. How have you adapted and what are the greatest challenges you face in keeping your staff, customers, and yourself safe? 

I’ve adapted by offering virtual culinary workshops and focusing on shipping pies nationally. I kept my staff safe by making sure they had access to vaccines early and making sure that we all remain healthy by continuing to wear our masks, wash our hands often, and socially distanced while in the kitchen.

In the midst of this pandemic and the uprisings for Black lives, what does justice and liberation look like to you? 

Justice and liberation look like many things, including closing the racial wealth gap, advocating for the disenfranchised, speaking up for causes you believe in, and lending a helping hand when needed- whether that means providing education, meals, resources, or time. We aim to always be stewards for fairness and equality and jump in when and where we see fit to make a difference.

How can people support your business?

Stay connected with us online by signing up for our newsletter at justiceofthepies.com and purchase our pies through Goldbelly and have it shipped anywhere in the US.

Instagram: @JusticeOfThePies

 

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