Pete and Evelyn Pihiou specialize in making edible mixes.
An affinity for food is a legacy Irene Moniodes left to her granddaughter, Evelyn.
“I come from a large Greek family and I have fond memories of the unique dishes prepared for the holidays,” Evelyn Pihiou said of her “yiayia” – Greek for grandmother, and in this family, executive chef.
Yiayia, who had immigrated to Canonsburg from the Greek island of Karpathos as a teen, was well-versed in preparing traditional dishes from her homeland.
Her example not only inspired Evelyn to become a foodie, it provided an impetus behind the granddaughter’s desire to become a food purveyor, and a successful one.
Pihiou (pronounced pie-you) is the president of Evelyn’s Elegant Edibles, which produces an array of dry mixes for soups, meat, desserts and spices. The mixes can be used to make dishes such as Gourmet Meatloaf, Greek “Cincinnati” Chili” and Burgundy Wine Meatball Mix.
Items may be ordered online, at evelynselegantedibles.com, or by phone at 724-746-3141. An estimated 100 stores in the region also carry Evelyn’s products. They include some Shop ‘n’ Save and Giant Eagle supermarkets; Soergel’s and Janoski’s farm markets; Rollier Hardware in Mt. Lebanon; and consignment stores.
Items are encased in durable clear plastic, with a label on the front identifying the item, and a larger label on the back listing other pertinent information. She signs the flip side of each with a lighthearted, “Enjoy! Evelyn.”
“Soups are about 75% of our business,” Pihiou said. “All soups are vegetarian-friendly. There is no meat or cream in them. We have gluten-free items, but they’re not marked. If I’m selling, I tell people. Labeling can be an issue.”
She essentially operates this not-so-elaborate endeavor with her husband, Pete, from inside their Canonsburg home. “I’m the No. 1 sales person and he is running everything else,” she said, chuckling and nodding toward the man she met while attending Canon-McMillan High School and married 42 years ago.
They also own a manufacturing building in Eighty Four, where friends and family members assist them on site. There are no employees, and – incredibly – the Pihious use no machines.
“We started packaging here in our house, but I couldn’t stand the smell of all the spices,” Evelyn said during a recent interview. Thus the real estate purchase.
Evelyn launched this business on a part-time basis in 2004, selling mostly at farm markets and craft shows while also working part time at Sarris Candies. She left the iconic sweet shop in 2011 and began devoting herself full time to Elegant Edibles.
“Our business started with grandma’s recipe for Yiayia’s Special Occasion Rice,” Evelyn said. She tried to replicate the recipe with ingredients that would yield an identical flavor, while reducing her grandmother’s labor time.
Evelyn’s father, a caterer who had been an Army cook, took the ingredients and developed a dry mix that would become a hit with family and friends.
“I thought it was perfect and took it to Yiayia to taste it,” Evelyn said. “Nothing could be perfect for her. She tasted it and tasted it again and said, ‘The parsley was chopped too fine.’ She gave me the biggest compliment, though, saying, ‘Bring me a couple of mixes to make myself.’
“She was a fabulous cook and baker.”
And an inspiration to a granddaughter who is emulating her as a foodie and succeeding as an entrepreneur.
