You wouldn’t guess it, but Ann Arbor is filled with Yoopers that travel down for school and that’s why Pastry Peddler exists. That may not be completely true, but the Peddler sells real pasties. They’re probably more known for sandwiches and other baked goods, but they sell five different pasty varieties and even have seasonal options.

If you plan on ordering more than two at a time, make sure to call ahead in the summer. Otherwise, the shop doesn’t often bake large amounts when the majority of students are away. But on a game day in the fall and only a short walk from Michigan Stadium, the Peddler likely gets slammed with buzzed students in need of their pasty fix.

The interesting thing about this shop is that the owner is from Ann Arbor and went to the French Pastry School in Chicago. It’s unclear why she started making pasties, but she says they are a combination of “English and Upper Peninsula recipes.” The Beef is a regular pasty you’d find anywhere else, but the Chicken is more of a Mexican-style with rice, while the Breakfast also has chorizo.

The Peddler’s pasty has the handle on the top, which isn’t often seen in Michigan. There’s some flake to the crust, but it doesn’t have much flavor by itself with shortening likely the base. My crust was kind of thin and broke off on the top, likely due to having to stretch it to form the handle.

The inside was loaded with chunks of meat and was maybe a little too chunky. I had a couple bites that were all meat. It could’ve been mixed a little better as the distribution of pepper was also overwhelming in certain areas. The dicing of potato and rutabaga with shredded carrot was a nice touch.

The Peddler has an appealing pasty that Yoopers can enjoy on campus. It may not be at the same level as they’re used to, but anytime you can get a pasty in the L.P. that at least resembles a regular pasty, that’s a bonus. But if they mix the insides a little more and add some flavor to the crust, this pasty would require a re-visit.

Taste: 3.5 (out of 5)
Crust: 3 (out of 5)
Pasty Presentation: 3.5 (out of 5)
The Shop: 3 (out of 3)
Would I come back for Pasties?: 0 (out of 2)

Total Pasty Ranking: 13 (of 20 points)

(Reviewed Summer 2018)