Tag Archives: Dewey’s Bakery

Dewey’s Bakery to introduce new concept in Winston-Salem

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Dewey’s Bakery, a nearly 100-year-old staple of Winston-Salem, is introducing a “new-to-us” concept at their Thruway Shopping Center and Reynolda Road locations. I say “new” to us because they did the concept in Greensboro, as a standalone store, but the ‘Boro folks demanded a real Dewey’s, and Dewey’s acquiesced to their request.

So, Tim, jeez o’pete! Get on with it already. What is this new concept?

The Man Who Ate the Town noshing a Dewzy

This is called the DEWZY.

It’s a delightful, layered dessert that starts with Dewey’s famous cake (several flavors) as a base, then ice cream, fillings, whipped cream, and sugar cookie.

Okay, but what is it!?!?

Several years back, Dewey’s bought Blue Ridge Ice Cream and while they have kept the BRIC dream alive, they have modified the ice cream a bit. I don’t like hard ice cream, and soft serve is sometimes too iffy. Dewey’s Ice Cream is all the goodness from BRIC but in a medium-textured frozen treat. It’s closer to the soft serve but with more body and more oomph. The flavors are really good, as well. I’ll get to that in a bit.

So, if you like jelly or custard or pudding-filled things (like doughnuts), then Dewey’s has the accouterments for you. I know. I know! Settle down. I’m just laying out the components.

Let’s get to this Dewzy.

Take the thing that people think of first when they think of Dewey’s – at least what I think of first – and that’s the cake.  Which cake flavor you ask? Well, that depends on the Dewzy you choose. Vanilla and chocolate are mostly in the pre-conceived recipes, but, c’mon, it’s Dewey’s. They may have some pink lemonade or other faves lying about. I’d ask first, don’t quote me on that!

Boston Cream Pie Dewzy

The ice cream flavors do rotate, but they have some standards. Vanilla, chocolate, honey latte, butter pecan, mint chocolate chip, and more.

But, here’s where the fun starts. The fillings, fillers, and toppings. Banana pudding, bananas, buttercream icing, chocolate shavings, hot fudge, pecans, caramel, lemon custard, mocha chips, chocolate mint candy, peanut butter cups, peanut sauce, and the list grows. Top this creation with a fluffy, velvety whipped cream, and top it with another thing Dewey’s is known for… a Moravian sugar cookie.

Think of it as a modified trifle. A trifle is a thin layer of sponge fingers or sponge cake soaked in sherry or another fortified wine, a fruit element, custard, and whipped cream layered in that order in a glass dish. We have to take away the alcoholic elements of course, but the idea is very similar.

I got to try three different versions of Dewzies when I visited the store.

The first one I had was the Boston Cream one. One of Stephanie’s and my favorite trips was to Boston. We stayed at the Omni Parker House, which isn’t just where the Parker House roll came from, it’s where the Boston Cream Pie came from. Custard runs over and through the vanilla cake, with vanilla ice cream and just enough fudge sauce to round out the fillings before you put on the whipped goodness and Moravian essential, the sugar cookie. A solid “A” for this one.

Peanut Butter Cup Dewzy

Up next, is the Peanut Butter Cup. Y’all. A certain, orange-wrapped peanut butter cup is one of my favorite dessert treats ever. This isn’t that, so don’t get silly. But, it isn’t far from it. Chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate, and peanut sauces swirled over those, with chunks of peanut butter candies (or broken cups) topped with the whippy cream yumminess and the sugar cookie. I have to say it was a bit too cold for these rich flavors to come out at first, but as I let it warm up a bit, the flavors started to make their way to the stage. Another solid “A.”

The final sample (and by sample, I mean full-sized “small” (which are 9oz cups)) was my favorite of the three, the Coffee Break. So, here we have vanilla cake with espresso-soaked custard, honey latte ice cream with mocha chips, then topped with whipped cream and the sugar cookie. Man, the coffee-flavored ice cream with the vanilla cake and the espresso custard? My eyes are rolling back in my head thinking of it. It was so good. It was robust, to say the least. I won’t get stupid with the rating, so let’s stay with “A+,” although I could add a few extra “+++” to it.

Other pre-determined menu items are (each includes the whipped cream and cookie):

Banana Pudding – sweet banana-creamy pudding, vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream, and of course, more bananas!
Birthday Party – Vanilla cake, white buttercream icing, vanilla ice cream, and sprinkles.
Black Forest Cherry – Cherries that are a little sweet and a little tart, with fudge, chocolate cake, and twisty chocolate shavings.
Caramel Turtle – just like a Turtle Sundae with pecans, caramel AND fudge sauce, vanilla ice cream on top of BOTH chocolate and vanilla cake.
Lemon Bar – Mouth-puckering lemon curd filling, vanilla ice cream, vanilla cake.
Mint Chocolate – Dewey’s mint choco-chip ice cream with chunks of chocolate mint candies, chocolate cake, and fudge sauce.
Ultimate Chocolate – Chocolate everything. Cake, ice cream, shavings, fudge sauce, kitchen sink, kitchen utensils, er… okay not the sink and utensils, but if there is something chocolate you can think of, chances are, it’s in this.

Coffee Break Dewzy

Now, this menu of dessert heaven should have something for just about everyone, but if you’re one of those who just have to have it your way, then, you’re in luck. Every single Dewzy is made-to-order, so leave something off (I’m not sure about adding things) if you want. But, if you’re really trying to satiate your creative juices, then you can make your own with just about any dessert offering in the building (within reason). Let’s put it this way… you are your own Picasso when it comes to your masterpiece.

So, when is this happening?
The Thruway Shopping Center launch is August 13 (262 S. Stratford Rd) from 11a-7p.
The Reynolda Road launch is September 9 (2876 Reynolda Rd) from 11a-7p.

I think this is a good thing. Dewey’s Bakery is stepping out and expanding its sweet horizons. I’m going to have to go back for more. I really want to try the Lemon Bar, the Birthday Party, and Black Forest Cherry. When you go, and I know you will, tell them that The Man Who Ate the Town sent you!!!!

The price points are $6 for a 9oz cup. $9 for a 20oz cup. $15 for a 32oz cup. They need a T-shirt competition for that big one.

 

 

Dewey’s Goes National with Deliciousness

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Dewey’s Bakery has been a landmark in Winston-Salem since 1930. It’s one of those things that is ingrained in your mind as are other local brands that make doughnuts, hot sauce, tobacco products or services like grocery stores and banks that have been around for generations. Winston-Salem “staples,” all. All of the companies in these prior categories have all found regional, national and even international success and now, it’s time for Dewey’s Bakery to do the same thing.

Earlier this week, I was privy to a sneak peek of a new line of Southern, bakery-inspired cookies and crackers that Dewey’s Bakery is getting ready to launch, not just locally, but nationally early next month. Now, you may be asking, Tim, doesn’t Dewey’s already make Moravian Cookies? and the answer to that is, yes. But, this isn’t that. Sure, those are delicious and famous, but now is the time for a new chapter in the Dewey’s Bakery chronicle. 

All in all, there are six new cookie flavors and five new cracker flavors. Let’s talk cookies first.

The new cookies range from soft to crispy and the flavors are:

The Crispy

  • Brown Butter with Sea Salt. This was my favorite cookie even though the name was a slight bit offputting. I think with the exception of brown sugar and hash browns, things that have “brown” in their name sometimes have a negative connotation and I think that could potentially be a problem with this cookie and that would be a shame because it tasted so good! But, they browned, or “toasted” the butter and added coarse sea salt, dark brown sugar and pure vanilla sea salt to it to make the cookie taste more like a toffee. In fact, Kristen Daukas and I stayed behind and talked with Dewey’s marketing folks about it and “toffee” was an alternative we suggested. But, this cookie was really good.
  • Pecan Praline. Dewey’s came really close to the classic shortbread confection we call pralines or sometimes a “sandie.” They have been using the praline pecans for generations. The cookie was buttery and just the right balance of the creaminess expected in a praline and the right crispy consistency; not too crispy.
  • Caramel Popcorn. This was weird for me at first but each successive bite brought a new appreciation to the concoction. It’s a soft and crispy treat all in one. It’s sweet and salty, starting with the sweetness and delivering buttery goodness in a lightly crispy cookie and then the saltiness of the caramel popcorn provides that finish. As I said, if you weren’t expecting it to be dually-based (sweet and salty) then you may be in for a shock initially, but stick with it as you’ll enjoy the outcome. Very good cookie. It tastes kind of like a Cracker Jack in cookie form.

The Soft

  • Banana Pudding. Dewey’s, being Southern, knows about some banana pudding. They’ve been doing it for a long time. So, when I saw this cookie, I knew it would be good. It has a soft, pull-apart texture and a comforting blend of real bananas and pure vanilla. The body of the cookie is airy, light, fluffy and, yes, banana-y. It was indulgent, true, but you didn’t feel decadent for eating it. At least I didn’t.
  • Triple Chocolate Brownie. So, full disclosure, here. I love chocolate when it comes in dark, milk, semisweet and in chip, truffle or bar form. I am not a fan of chocolate cake, ice cream, brownies or other chocolate flavored things. So, I can only say that I thought it was a good representation of what it was supposed to be, it just wasn’t my favorite. In the product description, Dewey’s says you feel as though you’re savoring one of their treasured brownies fresh from their bakery ovens. They do use semi-sweet chocolate morsels and a blend of two premium dark cocoa powders.
  • Lemon Bar. My other favorite of the cookies mainly because I love anything lemon. Dewey’s uses cold-pressed Meyer Lemon Oil, lemon zest and brown sugar for a sublimely tart treat bursting with citrus flavor. To top it off, literally, they give each lemony batch with a dusting of powdered sugar, making this that classic lemon bar flavor. Delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crackers

  • Carolina Style Barbeque. I’ll be honest, I didn’t taste the “Lexington style” BBQ in this, but it did have a slight vinegarish tang and smokey, savory flavor. I could have used a little more BBQ flavor and not the BBQ potato kind. That being said, I enjoyed eating it.
  • Sharp Aged Cheddar. Dewey’s describes this as being like a cheese straw and that is exactly what it tastes like. Just enough of the cheddar to offer that tangy-yet-savory bite that it is supposed to deliver but the cracker isn’t a “crisp” as much as a softer cracker, which is fine with me. That was, again, more in the realm of the cheese straw. This was probably my second favorite cracker flavor.
  • Chipotle Cheddar Cornbread. Because this is made with cornmeal and sweet corn, and you mix the savory spice of the smoked Chipotle peppers, throwing in a bit of the Extra Sharp Cheddar, the finish of this cracker really does taste like the jalapeno or other hot pepper cornbread my family used to make. Chipotle is just a dried jalapeno that is smoked so, that makes sense to me. The cracker is crispy but the flavor is more spongy like a true cornbread. I’d go with my third favorite of the crackers on this one.
  • Sweet Potato with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar. As with the chocolate cookies, I don’t particularly care for sweet potatoes, no matter how they’re prepared. I would rather just have white potatoes. Dewey’s says this was “inspired by sweet potato casserole baked fresh for Sunday supper.” The crackers are made with North Carolina sweet potatoes grown on farms not far from Winston-Salem. There are also touches of cinnamon and brown sugar, too. I did try it and I will say that I thought it tasted good, it is just that sweet potatoes are not my thing.
  • Low Country Boil. This was my favorite of the cracker flavors. You can really taste the Old Bay in the cracker. Low Country Boil is generally made with shellfish, corn on the cob, Kielbasa or some other Polish sausage style, red potatoes and sometimes ham. Now, granted you’re not tasting shrimp, corn on the cob or the rest of that, but you do get a savoriness that is kicked over the top with the “old bay-like” seasoning. I would love to try this with some very good crab or lobster dip. I think it would be the perfect pairing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I mentioned Dewey’s Bakery going nationwide with these new creations. In fact, they have partnered with The Fresh Market to start the ball rolling. They are going to be on other grocers’ shelves, as well, but they’re starting with The Fresh Market. The crackers and cookies will be available starting in October. If you live outside of Winston-Salem, you may not be familiar with Dewey’s Bakery, but you soon will. If your grocery store carries them, grab some and sample them. If the grocers don’t carry them, ask for them. You won’t be sorry.

Winston-Salem folk can sample these lovely treats on October 1 by visiting one of the area’s Dewey’s Bakery locations (262 South Stratford Road and 2876 Reynolda Road). Tell them that The Man Who Ate the Town sent you!

All Pictures Courtesy of Dewey’s Bakery and All Rights Are Assumed  

The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast Episode 49

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©Bar Piña

In Episode #49, proudly recorded from Test Pattern Studios:

Don’t forget my sponsors:

Washington Perk & Provision Company. Better than a convenience store but not quite a grocery store, in the heart of Washington Park and Downtown WSNC.

The Humble Bee Shoppe is challenging your perception of scratch made and leaving you with an experience you couldn’t possibly forget! With inventive flavor combos and a sense of artistry, The Humble Bee Shoppe isn’t your average bakery.

The Man Who Ate the Town is part of The Less Desirables Network. Give it a listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict and TuneIn, basically anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Or you can listen here (at the bottom of the post).

This episode is archived. Contact Tim if you need to hear it. 

Bon Appetit!