First ‘Great Macon Baking Week’ kicks off Sunday with desserts at 16 local restaurants
A new competition between local Macon restaurants is kicking off next week.
Macon Arts Alliance, Visit Macon and the Mill Hills Bakers Collective are holding The Great Macon Baking Week from July 23-30, which leads up to Bragg Jam.
Sharing elements of the popular Macon Burger Week held since 2018, Baking Week will feature inventive pastries and baked goods from local shops. Customers can vote on their favorite.
Unlike Macon Burger Week, the desserts will be priced by the restaurants themselves, but the prices will largely fall under $10. Some restaurants, like The Bears Den, have desserts that normally cost only about $3.
There are 16 different restaurants competing, from Dovetail to Natalia’s to Oh Honey Bakery, and their dishes are just as varied. From cupcakes to bagel bites, there is a wide variety of treats to look for during the week.
Many of the desserts being offered are variations of those offered already by the restaurants. Others, however, are new inventions just for the Baking Week.
People can vote by obtaining a “passport” from either the Macon’s downtown visitor’s center or the restaurants. Customers who purchase five or more desserts can be entered into a prize pool. For those who go to all 16 restaurants, there is an even bigger prize available, according to Anna Richards, Visit Macon marketing manager.
The passport is necessary to vote, and for those who wish to enter for a prize, proof of going to the restaurants will be secured through a stamp from the participating businesses.
Following the end of voting for the Baking Week, there will be another competition between local talents in the Central City Bake Off at the Mill Hill Community Arts Center on July 30. There, the winner of the Baking Week will be announced.
The Bake Off is open to hobby bakers and those who do not have a brick-and-mortar store to sell their baked goods. The winner will be decided by those who show up to the Bake Off and try the treats, according to Richards.
Participating restaurants
Acres & Oaks
Bear’s Den
Dawson’s Kitchen
Dovetail
Felicia’s Cake Factory
Kinjo Kitchen & Cocktails
Layers
Loom
Macon Bagels
Natalia’s
Oh Honey
Pearl Passionate Cuisine & Cocktails
Rookery
Satterfield’s
Tommy’s Bakery
Yollah
This story was originally published July 22, 2023 at 7:00 AM.