Archive of ‘Food’ category

Last Call Baking Co. cooks up sweet success in Birmingham

By Chanda Temple

Like many people working in the food industry, the pandemic delivered a one-two punch to Chanah Willis.

First, Willis left a bartending job in March 2020 during Covid-19. Then, Willis lost a pastry chef job at Urban Standard coffee shop when it closed in June 2020.

Not to be deterred, Willis started baking out of her home.

A following grew from her homemade pies, biscuits and tarts, which Willis sold at a church market for six months. Recognizing her talent, a businessowner let Willis use a commercial kitchen for free, which allowed her to make more baked goods and sell them wholesale to prepare for an even bigger future.

In 2021, Willis found an empty space at 213 25th St. North to open Last Call Baking Co. It took about a year and a half to build it out after it has served as a carpenter studio. But for Willis and her fans, the wait was worth it.

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Slutty Vegan to open in Birmingham on Aug. 21, 2022

By Chanda Temple

Atlanta businesswoman and philanthropist Aisha “Pinky” Cole was so impressed by the hundreds of people who stood in line for hours just to get one of her Slutty Vegan burgers when her food truck pulled into Birmingham in 2020, that she knew she had to set up shop in the Magic City.

So, on August. 21, from 12 to 6 p.m., she will open her first location in Alabama. It will be located at 77 – 55th Place in Woodlawn, which is a neighborhood in Birmingham. They will serve plant-based burgers, fries and desserts.

“Outside of Atlanta, y’all have been one of our biggest supporters, and I’m looking forward to being able to opening in Birmingham and really putting our footprint in the Woodlawn area,’’ she said. “I’m confident that we will be successful there. I think it will be a win-win for everybody because between our community work and what we do and what we can offer the City of Birmingham, I think everybody will be happy.’’

Cole founded her plant-based eatery with the unforgettable name in 2018. Today, she has five locations in Georgia. Her Birmingham location will be her sixth store. She also has plans to open stores in New York and beyond. Her four-year-old company is valued at $100 million.

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Made for This: Dre Foster makes good on cooking up Birmingham restaurant for dad

Dre Foster and her father, Andre Craig, had always talked about owning a restaurant. But he died in 2016 before they could make the dream a reality. Today, Dre is pushing to make their dream a reality as she works to open The Preservery Birmingham restaurant in the city's Five Points South area. (Photos: Special)

Dre Foster and her father, Andre Craig, had always talked about owning a restaurant. But he died in 2016 before they could realize their dream. Today, Dre is pushing toward their goal as she works to open The Preservery Birmingham restaurant in the city’s Five Points South area. Pictured is Dre’s sweet potato cheesecake with toffee bits, maple bourbon syrup and maple mascarpone. On the right is her five spice duck with braised baby bok choy, a corn fritter cake and pickled watermelon radish. (Photos: Special)

Starting today, “Made for This” is my new series that highlights people answering the call to do what they were born  to do. To be considered for a profile, please email me at chandatemple@gmail.com with details on why you were “made” for what you are doing today. 

By Chanda Temple

Dre Foster and her dad often talked about running a restaurant. He loved to cook and so did she. So, in Dre’s mind, they’d be perfect partners after she retired one day.

But the dream of father and daughter running a business never happened. In 2015, Dre’s father, Andre Craig, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed the day after Thanksgiving 2016. He was 57.

Dre was devastated and left with a new look on life: Life is short and she could no longer ignore what had been eating at her all these years. She was made to run a restaurant.

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