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Sweet Spot: Pop Pie Co.’s Coconut Cream Pie

Tender young coconut meat, coconut milk pastry cream, and fresh whipped cream make for a fluffy and sweet treat

By Archana Ram July 4, 2017

Sweet Spot: Pop Pie Co.’s Coconut Cream Pie — Photo by Justin McChesney-Wachs

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Here’s a geography lesson for you: Pie may sound all-American, but meat pies figure largely into Australian cuisine. And in Thailand, where a large population of Aussies live, it’s no surprise to see pie shops. So when Thailand-born chef Gan Suebsarakham decided to open a San Diego restaurant with Steven Torres, they couldn’t deny the pull of pie.

The result? Pop Pie Co. in University Heights, a hip, fast-casual eatery that opened last fall and specializes in savory and sweet pies. One of their best sellers is the coconut cream pie filled with tender young coconut meat (a product of Thailand) and a coconut-milk-based pastry cream, topped with fresh whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes. It’s pillow-soft and just 3.5 inches. We’d happily eat a dozen.