Brick Street Café has been keeping a delicious secret. At precisely 12:07 every afternoon, Brick Street Café celebrates a slice of their famous bakery with a fun daily Cake Walk.
Exclusive Photography: FishEye Studios, Greenville, SC
“The idea of a cake walk came to me 5 years ago,” explains Sara, Brick Street Café’s owner. “Our cakes are so emotional, I wanted the bakers to have a connection with that and let customers see that real people make these cakes.”
An incredibly special feeling fills the air when you enter the Brick Street’s Bakery. There is a soft murmur of voices and laughter accompanying the 8am morning light as the bakers prep for the day. Cake pans, freshly sprayed, stacked up, await the Sweet Potato Cake batter that has been secretly put together hours before by the owner's husband, Jim.
The small room is alive with the thick scent of butter softening, the sounds of eggs being cracked, mixers whirring, and ovens quickly warming the room. The music becomes louder, more energetic. In every corner, something is happening; the kitchen will remain that way for another 13 hours.
“During the holidays, we will bake and ice 800-900 cake orders,” explains Jena, the bakery manager.
There will be over 80 Sweet Potato Cakes made on some days, among numerous other cakes, Love Muffins, and cupcakes, all of which require icing and final touches before being shared with hungry patrons.
Creating a cake from start to finish is no simple feat. The German Chocolate frosting alone takes extreme care in something so simple as adding egg.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cake: chocolate cake with mint flavored buttercream filling, sprinkled with Andes mints and drizzled with chocolate ganache.
“Everyone always has something to say about the cake, it’s too this or that, but you know, just eat the cake! It’s going to taste good, and we don’t bake the cakes to ‘look’ good anyway, we make them to ‘taste’ great!”
Mike, Brick Street Cafe' GM
Kiss my Grits: Abe has been with the Café from the very beginning, sagely offering valuable everyday advice to passersby.
Harold recommends The Brick Street Fresh Fruit Plate; featuring Miss Sue's Savory Walnut Chicken Salad that she personally has perfected, fresh fruit, and a “Love Muffin” .
Here, at this spot, at 12:07pm; Baker, patron, server, manager, and owner shared an extraordinarily intimate moment that is not part of the typical restaurant experience.
“It’s a break in the battle,” sighs Ralph with pride. The statement digs deeper than just describing the kitchen’s rush and the quickness of the servers’ feet. Every person sat down today with their own battles on their shoulders, and for a minute, that weight was made a little lighter. By cake.
Thanks Brick's Street Cafe Team. We'll eat da cake!
Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch 11am-3pm; Dinner 5:30pm-10pm
314 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601
864-421-0111
http://www.brickstreetcafe.net/
Writer: Jamie Rose Lewis
