Nothing exemplifies Southern cuisine more than flakey Southern pies. They’re hard to find at bakeries, but relatively easy to find by the slice in Southern-styled restaurants such as Sadie’s Soulful Southern Experience and La’Wan’s Soul Food Restaurant.
The woman behind these treats at many area restaurants is baker Brandi Jones. She says she learned from the best — her mom and grandmother — and soon realized that her pound cakes sold faster and better than others at charity events. She decided to back up her talent with credentials and earned a culinary degree in Baking and Pastry from Johnson & Wales University here in Charlotte. Jones established her Honey Butter Bakery in 2007.
Today, Jones sells her pies and cakes to several restaurants including Sadie’s, Floyd’s, and La’Wan’s, but also sells directly to consumers at two markets. On Tuesdays, she’s at the Gateway Village Farmer’s Market, between Trade and 5th streets from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and on Fridays, she’s at the Center City Green Market at Trade and Tryon. Whole 9-inch pies are $15. In addition to pecan and sweet potato pies, she bakes Key Lime (seasonally), apple, sugar-free apple, and peanut butter. Jones also makes 15 varieties of cheesecakes including “Slap Yo’ Momma Sweet Potato” and red velvet; and five flavors of pound cakes, another disappearing Southern dessert.
Where to find Southern pies: Honey Butter Bakery. 704-299-2531, www.honeybutterbakery.com. E-mail: ILoveDesserts@HoneyButterBakery.com. Catering and wedding cakes available.
Looking for a food you can’t find? Or do you know of other food items unique to the QC? Whether it’s regional foods or international, talk to me: tricia.childress@creativeloafing.com or 704-522-8334, ext 136.
This article appears in Aug 24-30, 2010.
