Local food entrepreneur-made-good David Segal is innovating again. The man who first brought us DAVIDsTEA, then Mad Radish, is augmenting his popular Mad Radish line of salads with hand pies!

What, you may ask, is a hand pie? The perfect hand-held, on-the-go snack or meal, obviously. Mad Radish describes it as a cross between a mini pie and a savoury muffin, with a crispy bread crust encasing a healthy filling.

The recipe developers obviously know Ottawans’ food preferences well. Of the first three hand pies to be launched, two give a nod to our obsession with Middle Eastern fast food: shawarma chicken, and spicy chickpea salsa. There’s also a spinach, cheddar, and tomato hand pie on the menu.

Find it: 859 Bank St. and 116 Albert St. $3.75 each.

City Bites Hot Tip: If you’re an early adopter, ordering a hand pie on the June 6 launch date, you’ll also be supporting a good cause. On that day, all of the proceeds will be donated to Community Food Centres Canada. (Check out their website in order to find out more about how CFCC works to build health, belonging, and social justice in low-income communities through the power of food.)

City Bites Hot Tip #2: Want to try the pie but still have a hankering for a signature salad? Combine your hand pie with a small salad starting at $9.50.