From Desserts to Barbecue, a Suburban Bakery Known For Pie Hires a Pit Master | Eater Chicago

"Operating under the theory that anything is better when it’s wrapped in pastry dough, the Oak Park bakery Spilt Milk—long known for its pies—has hired barbecue pitmaster Mike Shaker as a newly created savory pastry chef role to boost their savory offerings. Sisters Molly and Meg Svec, who run the bakery and recently found themselves short on time after both having babies, recruited Shaker because he’s a regular customer and has a following for his home‑smoked brisket and hot links; Molly says “the brisket melts in your mouth, and the flavor of smoke is so clean.” In his first days in the kitchen he developed a butter chicken hand pie and an oyster mushroom and sun‑dried tomato quiche. While the bakery is waiting on a village permit to put a grill and smoker on the back patio, Shaker is spending 20–30 hours a week prepping savory quiche and hand‑pie fillings and preparing Friday night family dinners and Easter specials; once the permit comes through he’s expected to be a regular on the patio (with plans for wine, music, and teaching barbecue classes). Molly posted the announcement on social media to an overwhelming response, and though it’s still very early in the partnership, they aim to explore the relatively untapped pairing of barbecue and pastry." - Aimee Levitt