Saturday, July 16, 2011

Crave It? I did!

Tucked into a small corner of our town, with hundreds of cars passing by each day, is the Crave It? Bakery and Cafe. At 2728 Wade Hampton Blvd., at the corner of East Lee and Wade Hampton, a gem of an eatery has appeared. The plain building facade belies the warmth, fun, and charm that greets you as you walk in the door. The decor sets the mood - the crossroads created by a stylish yet funky cupcake boutique and the warm hug of a hometown coffee shop. Several beautifully decorated display cakes add splashes of color.
The meat-and-three menu dishes out home cooking and the set menu offers some great food as well. My first meal there was a bacon cheeseburger with freshly-made sweet potato chips. It was the perfect medium-well burger and had that elusive perfectly charred crunch on the outside with juicy flavored goodness on the inside. We have been several times already, as it is solid food as well as being fairly easy on the budget. One staple on the meat-and-three menu is grandma's secret recipe coconut pie. Oh, man! There is nothing else to say--you have to try this pie!
One of my favorite things about this place is the fact that it is run and staffed by family. Everyone is a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, or cousin, and all are part of the reason it works. I am just waiting for them to adopt me so that I can be let in on the fabulous family secrets that go into their desserts!
These are the desserts of legend, the reason to get up in the morning! Cupcakes that melt in your mouth, buttery coconut pie, smooth, juicy peach dumplings-their take on peach cobbler, and a pumpkin roll that tastes like going home for an old-fashioned Christmas. As I write this, I am at the beach where crystal blue waters meet white sugar sand, and the musical sounds of a Jamaican band drift over me in the cool breeze....or...... it could just be that I have bitten into this week's cupcake, (beach umbrella included), a pina colada delight that makes me want to kick my shoes off and dig my toes into the sand.
This is definitely the place to go for a girl's day out, a business lunch with a sweet finish, or just a way to relax at the end of a long day. So, for whatever you crave that is made with love, this is the place!