While chicken and waffles may be an Atlanta staple, there’s a new sweet and savory creation making mouths water in the metro.
At Jewel’s Treats & More in Douglasville, customers are greeted with the aroma of freshly baked pastries as Tony Terry’s “With You” plays overhead. But it’s the smell of crisp, golden lemon pepper wings straight from the fryer that lets them know they are in for something special.
Owner Tina Arnold has amassed nearly 2 million views on TikTok for her spin on two Atlanta classics: lemon pepper wings and pound cake.
Arnold drizzles the cake with a sweet lemon glaze topping and two fried lemon pepper wings.
Customers can buy a slice for $11, or a whole cake for $125. Slices are available 2-4 p.m. every Saturday, and cakes must be ordered in advance.
An Atlanta native and baker since 2009, Arnold always had a passion for all things sweet, especially poundcakes.
“I felt like making sweet things for people during their special occasions was different than just cooking for someone,” Arnold told Capital B Atlanta. “We make all types of cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, we make our banana pudding from scratch, brownies, sweet potato pies … really everything.”
Other customer favorites from the “Pound Cake Headquarters” include gourmet cupcakes, candy apples, and pretzels.
After Georgia legislation proposed to officially designate lemon pepper as the state’s wing flavor, Arnold said she was inspired to add a “little twist” on two city staples. She’s been selling the treat since June.
“Atlanta is the home of the lemon pepper wings, and we make all types of pound cakes,” Arnold said. “I said, ‘Hey, why not? Let’s put some lemon pepper wings on a pound cake.’”
What started as a way to generate local buzz soon attracted national attention when USA Today and the Atlanta Food Guy featured her unique treat online.
The sweet-and-savory combination has sparked debates and jokes on social media, with some users describing the creation as something that can ‘“only be found in Atlanta.”
“If I bite into a piece of cake and taste lemon pepper, I’m fighting everybody,” a user wrote.
For those with negative comments, Arnold said her cake is simply another take on chicken and waffles.
“With the lemon pepper pound cake, don’t be closed-minded,” she said. “Come out and try it for yourself. It’ll be something new.”
Regardless of their stance on chicken on cake, people can’t seem to get enough of the creation.
Arnold, whose family-owned bakery is named after her youngest daughter, said she made 12 of the lemon pepper cakes last weekend and sold out of the “go-to cake” for events and birthday parties.
“People want to try it, and it’s delicious,” she said. “So we do make a lot of them.”
The baker also noted that the cake seems to be most popular with men. “You get your wings on your cake, and then you go get a beer. It’s the perfect combination,” she said.
For Arnold, making people smile and giving them something good to eat is the ultimate goal. As a Black business owner, she’s grateful for the support she’s received
“Even if you don’t like the lemon pepper pound cake, we have an array of delicious treats that you can try,” she said. “Either way, I’m going to get you hooked, so come visit us.”
Jewel’s Treats & More is located at 2562 Fairburn Road, suite E-10, in Douglasville.
