Day Griffith - The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook

Cheryl Day & Griffith Day
with Amy Paige Condon
Foreword by Paula Deen

ARTISAN NEW YORK

For Natalie.
Your laughter lives forever in the bakery.

When Cheryl and Griff Day asked me to write the foreword for their first cookbook, of course I was honored. But, honestly, I didnt know where to start. I couldnt decide if I should start by introducing them as a wonderfully hardworking couple with a sweet tooth for delicious food, or if I should start by telling yall about how their bakery is quickly becoming one of the must-eat-at places in Savannah. Or should I instead rave about all of the mouthwatering recipes you are bound to find in this cookbook? The truth is, Im just so lucky to have people like Cheryl and Griff in my life whom I can consider friends. So, finally, I figured I would start at the beginning, which seems appropriate for the beginning of a book, doesnt it?

I was first introduced to Cheryl by my wonderful creative director, Brandon Branch. Immediately I knew that I had to feature her on my show, because we started cutting up right away, just as if we had always known each other. I truly felt a unique, unspoken bond with Cheryl. You see, it takes a special kind of person to create what she has created for herself and for others, and I recognized that instantly. Cheryl communicates with people through her food, and its obvious in everything she makes.

If youre lucky enough to have her serve you one of her Old-Fashioned Cupcakes, well, the smile on your face is almost payment enough for Cheryl! I have to tell you that the first time I tried one of those cupcakes, it nearly brought tears to my eyes because it reminded me so much of the ones my mama used to make for me. Furthermore, Cheryl and I share a sincere passion for cooking and serving others that goes beyond words. And that right there is the perfect recipe for success in this business: equal parts passion and determinationmix until well blended. But its not only our passion for food and good company that brings us together.

Dining at Cheryl and Griffs place is a total experience from start to finish, and it goes further than just the food. If youve never eaten at Back in the Day Bakery, then you have missed out on a delicious treat. You absolutely must do yourself a favor and come on down to Savannah and see what its like for yourself. From the moment you step into the shop, sure enough, youll find Cheryl front and center, laughing, carrying on, and welcoming all of her guests as if she personally knows each one of them. She has such a gift for making anyone feel at home, and that is always so refreshing to find in a time and age when people often forget to sit down, relax, and have a cupcake.

Both Cheryl and Griffs sense of style and the vintage look of their restaurant stir within me a deep connection to days gone by. When I eat at their place, I feel as if I have been transported to a time when I was a little girl sitting in my grandmothers kitchen, listening to her tell stories of when she was a little girl. There is a sense of yesteryear floating in the air. Its like a blast from the past. The 1950s-inspired decor, beautiful pastel color palette, and fabulously crafted foods nearly take my breath away each time I visit.

In fact, Back in the Day has really become a total Deen family affair, and it is one were not ashamed to admit! My beautiful niece Corrie loves Cheryl and Griffs food and bakery almost as much as I do. We recently had her bridal shower there on a sunny Savannah afternoon. The girls had such a hoot, and I couldnt keep my hands off all of the delectable cookies, breads, and savory tarts. To tell the truth, in many ways Corrie is like a daughter to me, and it meant so much to me to host this important event in her life in what turned out to be the perfect venue. It was a day that both Corrie and I will cherish for the rest of our lives. You see, thats what Cheryl and Griff are good at. Not only do they bake decadent treats, but they also bake wonderful memories that stay with you forever. My older son, Jamie, and my darling daughter-in-law, Brooke, enjoy taking my sweet grandbaby Jack down to the bakery on Saturday afternoons. Jamie and Brooke love going because of its small-town, friendly neighborhood feel, so they try to make it a weekly tradition. You know, I just love that we are able to find a place where we can share our lives, the way that Cheryl and Griff share their food.

I cannot wait for you to try the recipes in this book, and I hope that you have the same experience with Cheryl and Griffs treats that I do. From Cheryls Old-Fashioned Cupcakes to Griffs Chocolate Bread, they are made so honestly from the heart, and I think thats what I admire most. This is a cookbook that you are going to want to hang on to. While I encourage you to share it with friends, just make sure they are willing to give it back, because they may want to keep it for themselves!

Love and best dishes,

Sometimes I ask myself, Who does that? Just opens a bakery? But Griff and I did. We opened Back in the Day Bakery in August 2002. We wanted to build a community by baking fresh, wholesome cakes and artisan breads based on recipes passed down through family and friends. We knew we wanted to establish a neighborhood bakery, so we searched to find an area that was centrally located and easily accessible to the many neighborhoods that make up the city of Savannah. We chose the magically named Starland District; it was being revitalized, and we wanted to be a part of that transition. We transformed the circa-1925 building, the former Starland Dairy general store, at the corner of Bull and West Fortieth Streets, into our little American bakery.

If youve ever visited Georgia in the middle of August, you understand that the only thing people talk about is how hot and humid it is. Tourists stay away, and the locals escape to Tybee Island, waiting for any cool breeze that blows. The fierce afternoon rains provide no relief from the heat, but you almost always catch a glimpse of a rainbow on the drive out to the beach. Savannah becomes a kind of ghost town in August. Then, after Labor Day, when people come back from vacations and the students and faculty from the Savannah College of Art and Design return to town, the city reawakens.

Those first days in our new business moved slowly, but before long, our little corner bakery became the buzz of Savannah. The folks who discovered us brought their friends, and soon there was something to talk about besides the weather. As with most things in Savannah, word of mouth spread about the bakery and our homespun baked goods. Griff and I had dreamed of opening a gathering spot that would become a food destination for locals as well as those visiting our beautiful city, and in a short time, it looked as if we had achieved that.