Gowanus-based Four & Twenty Blackbirds was founded in 2009 by sisters and pie makers Melissa Elsen and Emily Elsen. They bake their renowned pies with ingredients sourced locally and organically whenever possible, true to their dream of making the best pies ever. The sisters have created a local enterprise in NYC that includes their original pie shop, a large scale production kitchen that serves as home base for their pastry team and administrative staff, and most recently, a ten seat pie counter and bar in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn that offers wine, locally brewed beer and other specialty beverages that pair with their signature pies.