Eat Athens: Local baker's 'Sugar Delights' are indulgent additions to the menu at Buvez

Buvez has always had a reputation for creativity when it came to their coffee and tea menu, but their recent hiring of chef Mimi Maumus has put them on the local culinary map with several uniquely-crafted sandwiches and salads. Guests who stop in looking for something to satisfy their sweet tooth will be able to experience some new additions thanks to the efforts of an ambitious local entrepreneur.

Athens native Abasha Smith collaborated with Maumus to produce a variety of muffins and cinnamon rolls from her small business Sugar Delights by Abasha, all of which are now available at Buvez. Smith sat down with the Banner-Herald to share the story of how she became interested in baking, and how sheer determination lead her to walk into Buvez with a can't-lose pitch.

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After being inspired by an Instagram video in 2017, Smith took $20 to the grocery store an bought a box of cupcake mix. When she didn't achieve the desired result, she called up her grandmother for advice. Over the phone, Smith was given a from-scratch recipe to follow, and her baking skills improved by trial and error. With the encouragement of taste tester and future Sugar Delights co-owner Ren Hill, Smith began giving away her confections before eventually adding a price tag.

"I didn't know how to sell my cupcakes because I felt like I barely knew what I was doing," said Smith. "After I went to work at Insomnia Cookies, I moved up to general manager and learned the business side of things, how contracts and partnerships work, and what vendors do."

In addition to cupcakes, Sugar Delights by Abasha offers whole or by-the-slice cakes, jumbo pretzels, loaf cakes and more via direct order from their Facebook and Instagram pages. On a friend's recommendation last month, Smith met with Maumus and presented her with a box containing a muffin, croissants and tarts. Smith and Maumus worked together to figure out what would work best at Buvez, and the results are a combination of magnificent culinary minds.

Smith's two muffins currently available daily at Buvez are the Blueberry Explosion and the Nola Delight. The Blueberry Explosion contains lemon curd inside, and is topped with fresh blueberries and gold leaf. The Nola Delight is a chocolate chip muffin with a buttercream icing inspired by Buvez's popular Nola coffee, and the final touch are espresso beans that come from Athens-based 1,000 Faces Coffee.

When we bit into the Blueberry Explosion, Smith's background as a cakemaker was readily apparent, as the muffin had an immediate soft sweetness almost like a pound cake. The amount of lemon curd was just enough to complement the blueberries without overpowering the whole thing. If you're a coffee lover, the Nola Delight is going to be your new favorite, thanks to the way the buttercream is punctuated by the crunch of the espresso beans.

Smith's cinnamon rolls are available at on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, so a return visit is definitely in order. Buvez is located at 585 Barber St. suite A and is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Eat Athens: Buvez adds local baker's 'Sugar Delights' to menu