A DeSoto teen goes into business as ‘The Pie Dude’ after baking catches on during pandemic

Living in relative isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people in different ways. Some have used the extra time to rest.

DeSoto High School sophomore Kevin Robinson Jr. decided to feed his parents, and he turned his efforts in the kitchen into a business: The Pie Dude is now accepting orders and catering requests online.

Robinson had an interest in baking as a child, and picked up his utensils again to have something to do at home, according to a DeSoto ISD news release. His parents enjoyed the home-cooked meals, and encouraged Robinson to continue to hone his craft.

“Cooking and baking just comes naturally; it’s a stress reliever and takes my mind off things,” Robinson said in the release. “I enjoy being in the kitchen and trying out new recipes.”

First he put his own special twist on his grandmother’s famous sweet potato pie recipe.

Robinson’s proud mother shared the pies on social media, where the orders and special requests started to pour in. As word of mouth spread, Robinson began making other pies, cobblers and desserts as requested.

Taste testers outside of his immediate family — he wanted an honest opinion, according to the news release — gave feedback that helped him perfect his recipes, and the Pie Dude was born.

Serving his baked goods at a church event, people kept pointing him out as the pie man or the pie guy. He thought “man” and “guy” sounded “kind of old,” but a neighbor suggested “The Pie Dude,” and it stuck.

The Pie Dude was especially busy during Thanksgiving, with more than 100 orders in queue, according to the news release.

Robinson’s an aspiring dentist, but with the success of The Pie Dude, he also has his eyes on DeSoto High School’s culinary arts program.