About 23 years ago, my mother and father-in-law decided to open a small restaurant in a town just north of Atlanta, Georgia. BJ's (after Barbara & Jimi) was birthed in a tiny space in a strip shopping center. By the end of their opening week, patrons were lined down the sidewalk waiting for a table. Fast-forward 10 years.... BJ's has now upgraded its space 3 times and has 5 dining rooms in one location.
The secret of BJ's success was a combination of things.... great good ol' southern cooking and delightful hosts. People would flock to the restaurant after church on Sunday nights where you could find Jimi at his keyboard with people gathered round singing old (and new) gospel melodies while Barbara, and her beautiful daughter Aletia, would be visiting tables delivering scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth Angel Biscuits.
The restaurant is now closed (couldn't recover from a fire) and Aletia has written her first cookbook. I was so happy to see that she included one of my favorite desserts from the restaurant.... her 8-Layer Chocolate Cake. This cake is so amazing I just had to share it. It has very simple ingredients but produces a "simply" delicious chocolate cake. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
8 comments:
Joy, the recipe looks nice but your illo is even sweeter! Did you do all the illustration for her cook book? I hope she may consider opening in another location... what a wonderful story.
Sharyn... her cookbook was self published and doesn't have illus. Hmmm.... maybe I could twist her arm into letting me do a calendar or something?
No fair! I'm on a diet! :-) But what the heck...apple cobbler is going to happen here soon because the apples are ripening on the tree as I type.
Diane
Yum Joy. I was afraid to look. Don't need any temptations regarding chocolate!
Love your blog ... and thanks for stopping by mine.
I also love chocolate cake.
Mary
Ooooooh, I think I'm going to like this blog. =)
Hi Joy,
What a beautiful story of BJ's So sorry they had a fire. The cake recipe sounds so delicious. Pefect comfort dessert food for the change of seasons.
Thank you for sharing and thank you for stopping by for tea.
Have a great weekend.
Blessings, Celestina Marie
Dearest sweet joy, this is such a beautiful story and so sorry a fire took away such a cozy lovely place. That cake recipe looks really yummie and i love how it was presented. I will need to check out your mother in law's book. :) Happy monday adn happy week! Love to you!
Post a Comment