Wine Down & Sweets Café is rethinking the dessert course
By Ken McEntee
Wine and cheese is a common pairing.
But wine and a cupcake?
“Absolutely,” Tammy Phillip enthusiastically confirms. “If you ask a woman about her favorite two things, many will say wine and chocolate. So, it’s a perfect pairing.”
That explains the unique combination of offerings at Tammy’s new Wine Down & Sweets Café, in Strongsville. A self-taught baker who created her first wedding cake when she was 14 years old, Tammy explains that her café, which opened four months ago, combines her confectionery passion with an affinity for fine wine. She even serves wine ice cream.
The wine racks in the café are populated with selections that are most likely to be served at high-end restaurants.
“These aren’t bottles that you’re likely to see in a supermarket,” Tammy emphasizes.
As the pun-filled name implies, Wine Down is a place to wind down and relax with friends or family. The café can also accomodate bridal showers, baby showers, private events or even business meetings.
“We’re a café, bakery, wine bar, cake shop and event venue all rolled into one,” Tammy says.
The bakery is the main focus in the cafe. All of the cleverly created cakes, cupcakes, pastries and other desserts are made daily using the highest quality ingredients, Tammy assures. And many of them may just have a bit of a kick.
“I’ve always loved baking with alcohol,” she reveals. “Along with the fondant characters that decorate the cakes, the adult-oriented desserts are two of the things that make us unique, but classic and gourmet flavors are always on-hand. Our full-time baker, Paula, a graduate from ICASI, keeps a variety of desserts in the bakery case daily.”
“We don’t do basic sheet cakes,” Tammy advises. “There are plenty of places where you can buy a good, inexpensive sheet cake. We focus on cakes that are more fun, creative and unique to each customer.”
The café, she says, fulfills a longtime dream. After making her brother’s wedding cake at the age of 14, she started to get requests from friends and family. That parlayed into making custom bakery from home. Eventually, she started to sell her desserts at events hosted by a couple of local restaurants.
After working in human resources for 20 years, Tammy decided it was finally time to open her own café.
But not your typical bakery.
“I want to provide a comfy place to relax and wind down, whether you are looking for a fun evening with friends and family, an event space, a custom cake, sweet treat, glass of wine, cocktail or dessert to take home, Wine Down & Sweets Café is your place,” she says.
Groups at Wine Down range from yoga classes to business groups to book clubs to wine tastings to local artists performing music. Morning meetings can be powered by a hot cup of Berea roasted Red Cedar coffee and a freshly made scone or biscotti. Kids are welcome, too. Tammy is stocked up with board games to keep them occupied.
“We have bridal showers, bachelorette parties and other events here,” Tammy says. “We have a full bar service and a food license. We currently have a limited menu but always offer cheese and crackers or hummus and pita bread. During a murder mystery dinner we hosted, we served cavatelli with meatballs, peppers and sausage. When you schedule in advance, we can do just about anything though like quickly whip up one of our delicious flatbreads.”
While the wine and chocolate theme entices women, guys enjoy Wine Down as well, Tammy assures.
“Most women who come in are extremely thrilled and most guys are pleasantly surprised,” she says. “We have beer on hand and make wonderful mixed drinks as well.”
Wine Down & Sweets Cafe is located at 14785 Pearl Road, in Strongsville. You can schedule an event by calling 440-268-8305, or get more information at WineDownSweetsCafe.com. Follow @wdsc2018 on Facebook for the latest happenings.