Lisa Catalone Castro could easily hop on that — now slightly dated — social media trend “tell me blank without telling me.” Her version would be, “Tell me you went to the Rhode Island School of Design without telling me.”

Cut to a montage of her intricately crafted custom pies, adorned with flowers, radishes, business logos, puppy portraits, colorful jockey shirts and even Virginia’s first female governor. Beneath the surface beauty lies the all-butter crust and seasonal filling — think apple, tart cherry, strawberry rhubarb and even a grapefruit custard.

“With graphic design and many other design fields it takes a while to see results,” says Castro. “With pie, within three hours I have instant gratification.”

In addition to running her own full-time design company, Catalone Design Co., since 1997, Castro has been running pie business and school Lisa Makes Pie on the side for nearly a decade.

Castro says her parents have always been supportive of her creative endeavors (i.e. going to art school) and they are “maker kind of people.” Her mother, grandmother and mother-in-law were all adept at baking a tasty pie. A genetic predisposition for baking and graphic design acumen? Castro felt called upon.

She started her small pie making business and pie school in Bethesda, building up a steady clientele. When she and her husband moved to Brookland Park this past summer, she knew, even with years of experience under her apron, that she’d have to start building the business up again from scratch.

So, she did what all good new neighbors do: delivered a pie with a smile.

Good neighbors in Brookland Park

“It was wonderful to see someone from our neighborhood so thoughtfully and skillfully create something tailored to our restaurant,” says Morty’s Market and Deli co-owner Adam Stull.

Castro’s custom, savory Morty’s pie was filled with “all kinds of mushrooms” from shiitake to oyster. The eye-catching logo, anchored by a martini glass, looked even more divine in the after-bake shots.

Castro says her freebie neighborhood deliveries were meant to be surprises at the beginning — but that’s tricky — so she lets the owners know ahead of time that she’s coming. She only hopes that they’ll bake the pies and photograph them in return.

Brookland Park is replete with good neighbors — Castro has delivered a pie to Ruby Scoops, Alma’s Gallery, Die By Fry, ILYSM Books, Ninja Kombucha, Hand & Mirror Studio and most recently, Julio’s Bagels. You can gawk over each custom topping on Instagram.

“We loved the pie from Lisa,” says Julio’s co-owner Ashley, “Ash,” Patino. “She is obviously very talented and has a lot to teach anyone who takes her class. We left it on display for a couple days at Julio’s—it brought joy to all who saw it!”

No detail is too nuanced, no font too diminutive. Castro can do it all. And you can, too.

Castro is hoping to gain an audience for her pie school, which she held in the DMV regularly once or twice a month. These are intimate gatherings, with only eight students per class —more, if it’s a corporate booking.

Pie school exploration

Castro’s first Richmond pie school was held at Ninja Kombucha. “They’re just the nicest people,” she says. And she held a Pi Day-themed class at the Waldorf School mid-March, for, well, Pi Day. Each pie school includes a brunch — the March event included a savory artichoke spinach galette with a side salad — a walk-through of making your own pie with any design you’d like followed by a tasting of a couple of sweet pies.

“I tell people at pie school this is my chance to do some exploration myself,” says Castro, who says she’d like to experiment with a passionfruit custard. Her Pi Day Pie school pie tasting included a matcha pie. The base for sweet and savory pies is always the all-butter crust, says Castro. The only other constant is that there is no competition—this isn’t the “Great British Bake Off.”

The vibe is laid-back. “We don’t use every tool, I want to make sure people feel the texture of the dough and know when to add water,” says Castro. “I think people really appreciate the class because they see how into it I am.”

As for what’s next, Castro says she’s looking to take on custom orders and to keep hosting her pie school. The next session, “spring pie school,” is slated for May 17 at Ninja Kombucha.

If you want a slice of the pie before you order the whole thing, Castro plans to pop up around town this spring with smaller offerings.

She’ll be at ILSYM Books this Saturday March 28 starting at 10 a.m. serving 4-inch mini pies and galettes (garlicky roast pork, strawberry balsamic and lemon cream) as well as 10-inch pies whole or by-the-slice (mixed berry, French silk, chicken pot pie and mushroom leek quiche).

Sign up for pie school and order your custom creation at lisamakespie.com. Catch Castro at ILYSM Books (119 W Brookland Park Blvd) Saturday, March 28 starting at 10 a.m.