Sweet Holiday treats ASHLEY MAC’S ashleymacs.com, various locations This multi-location café is well-known for its chicken salad and strawberry cake—both delicious—but for Thanksgiving, opt for their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake pie. The strawberry jam cheese ring is listed under appetizer options, but it’s so good it’s worth offering as a savory dessert, too. BOTTEGA bottegarestaurant.com, (205) 939-1000 With just 48 hours’ notice, you can crown your table with a decadent coconut-pecan cake from James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Dolester Miles. One bite of the sweetened condensed milk, egg, and coconut filling, and no one will even remember the turkey. (Be sure to save a slice for Black Friday breakfast!) CRACKER BARREL crackerbarrel.com, various locations It’s not local per se, but every good Southerner knows Cracker Barrel is the next best thing to grandma’s cooking. Their chocolate-pecan pie is only available from late-October through the holidays, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to serve it a la mode. The pies freeze well, so grab an extra one to enjoy in 2022. CRESTWOOD COFFEE CO. facebook.com/crestwoodcoffeeco, (205) 595-0300 Serving a sophisticated crowd? Make sure a blueberry-goat cheese pie from this little corner café is on the menu. Rave reviews and multiple “you gotta try it” raves from friends earned this treat a spot on our list of faves. It’s unbelievably delicious. 18 Bham Family November 2021
FOOD REVIEW
DAUGHTERS BAKING daughtersbaking.com, (205) 637-6238 Inspired by the “naked cake” trend, Mallory Webb solidified herself as Birmingham’s go-to for creative, rich-filling cakes with exposed edges. Customers can pick up their orders at her recently opened storefront in Mountain Brook Village. Preorder fall flavors such as pumpkin-brown butter or salted caramel-pretzel in a variety of sizes—3-, 6-, or 9-inch. EDOLYN’S PIES edolynspies.com, (205) 876-6754 Visit Edolyn’s in the Pizitz Food Hall to taste-test a handmade 4-inch mini pie, and order a couple of 9-inch pies for your turkey table. Recipes for such flavors as sweet potato, lemon chess, pecan, and brownie have been in the family for three generations. EMILY’S HEIRLOOM POUNDCAKES emilysheirloompoundcakes.com, (205) 937-7392 Born out of a fundraising idea, April McClung’s pound cake business grew exponentially as word spread that the traditional Southern desserts tasted light and moist, just like pound cakes back in the day. The pound cakes are made from scratch using a family recipe passed down from April’s husband’s grandmother, Emily Magnolia McClung. Choose from original, chocolate, lemon, and key lime. HOMEWOOD GOURMET homewoodgourmet.com, (205) 871-1620 You can order a traditional pumpkin or chocolate chess pie here, or expand your horizons with a pecan-oatmeal pie or pumpkin bread pudding CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
