Inside 43215: Downtown Dish
CHAMELEON IN THE ALLEY
Who cares if Ellen DeGeneres loves them? Who cares if their brownies issued a humiliating defeat to the ones concocted by a Food Network chef? Lewis Center is pretty far to drive to buy a brownie. Even if the brownies are fresh-baked daily.
Even if the Lewis Center bakery is the very first match on Google when you enter “gourmet brownies.”
Even if it’s the very first match for “sumptuous brownies” too.
It’s too far to drive because Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties has set up shop at Pearl Market on Tuesdays. After four years in operation (both online and out in the ‘burbs), the bestest brownie bakery has arrived at the city’s core. For co-founder Mark Ballard, the timing is just right. “It’s a great way for us to do a little research… and it’s also a good way to bring our brownies to a downtown audience.”
As it turns out, the Pearl Market-place is a chameleon. While it’s a useful arm for the Sugardaddy Empire, it’s the foundation for Guillermo Perez’s business. Perez launched his Si Senor Sandwiches & More to rave reviews at opening day of the Market. The vendor didn’t arrive with hype or with a cavalcade of press releases; he arrived armed with something much, much more powerful: Peruvian Beef Sandwiches. In his case, those sandwiches (and their new fans) spoke volumes.
Best of all? These two stops are stationed within shootin’ distance, which makes finding lunch and dessert easy as PIE (and the Pearl Market’s got some killer pies too).
Pearl Market is open every Tuesday and Friday, 10:30am to 2pm, through October 30. www.downtowncolumbus.com/pearlmarket
Tags: Downtown Columbus, Downtown Columbus Restaurants, Farmers' Market, Homemade, Lynn and Pearl Alley Markets, market, Pearl Alley, Pearl Market, Retail