Photos by Michael Piazza

Editor’s note: When we set out to find just the right pie story for our holiday issue, Renee McLeod was our first and only ask. Her acclaimed pie shop, Petsi Pies, has been nestled at the end of a residential block of Beacon Street in Somerville since 2003. Her baking has been lauded by neighborhood folks and visitors alike—the home-style comforting pies, both sweet and savory, are seasonal and make the most of local fruits and vegetables. She uses all-natural ingredients and her grandmother’s and Auntie’s recipes, delighting her customers daily. And the not-so-humbly-named Genius Sweet Potato Pecan Pie? It’s life changing, we assure you. Try your hand at making it yourself, or head to Somerville to visit Renee and buy one straight from the source. But place your order early—unsurprisingly, the holidays are a pie shop’s busiest time of year.