Cynthia L. Herzog 
With award-winning desserts like the Tennessee Whiskey Bundt Cake, it’s no surprise that Mama Pug’s Sensational Desserts now opens a brick and mortar location.
It was this Bundt cake that earned Tommie Marshall “A Taste of the Blvd” from the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Cook-Off for men in 2018.
And that win helped her launch her mobile baked goods dessert truck, Mama Pug’s Sensational Sweets.
Fast forward nearly five years later, Marshall’s dream of opening a bakery has come true. The new Mama Pug’s Sensational Sweets bakery opened on April 19 at 8046 Willow Tree Lane in Cordova.
The bakery is named after Marshall’s grandmother.
“She and my aunts taught me how to cook when I was 11, and I’m turning 50 this year,” said Marshall, a native of Jackson, Tennessee. “My pie recipes come from my grandmother Mama Pug and my aunts were the pastry chefs.”
What to expect
To start, Marshall will be serving his signature bundt cakes. Each of the flavors of the nine cakes featured will be available in their signature “single serving” size, as well as a larger traditional cake size.
Expect cake flavors like the Pink Pantha (a strawberry cake with fresh lemon juice and pink lemonade vodka in the frosting), Sock It To Me (a golden cake sprinkled with pecans and cinnamon) as well as a super fluffy Red Velvet.
“Tennessee whiskey is my signature flavor,” Marshall said of the bundt cake that features pecans and Tennessee whiskey as ingredients. “It’s a taste you’ve never experienced before. If your eyes don’t roll back, that’s so good you get your money back.
Some flavors contain alcohol, some do not. Marshall even has sugar-free options in its offerings.
The individual-sized bundt cakes quickly became customer favorites in Memphis retail stores. Marshall thinks it’s because the packaging allows people to eat half and then save half for later.
They can be found on the shelves of stores such as Cordelia’s Market, Buster’s Liquors and Wines as well as Wine Cellar.
“It’s a sequel,” said Erica Humphreys, general manager of Cordelia’s Market. “During the holiday season, we bring in the big bundt cakes and even organize our holidays by order. For the Easter weekend, we released almost 150 on Thursday, and on Sunday we only had 25 left.”
As the bakery business grows, Marshall plans to add items like pies (in flavors like chess, pecan, and sweet potato), apple dumplings, and cobblers. of peaches. Coffee service and light lunch items will also be added.
He will continue to sell his bundt cakes in Memphis-area stores.
The recipe for success
“If you find your gift, you can do whatever you want,” Marshall said. “I started with $500 and a dream.”
Marshall is eager to share his story.
While in rehab 10 years ago for cocaine and alcohol addiction, he had a vision that cooking would be his future.
“My dream of eventually owning my own bakery started when I was at the treatment center,” Marshall said. “The food truck and delivery services were stepping stones.”
He explained that over the past year, his retail business had grown so much that he barely had time to keep the food truck running.
“My uncle told me that when people come looking for you, it’s time to open a bakery,” he said of the outlet’s opening. “Last year I struggled to keep up with store orders. I knew it was time.
Asked about the use of alcohol in some of his recipes, Marshall said it’s not an issue. He explained that over the years he attended meetings to equip himself with enough tools to avoid temptation.
“I have too much to lose. It’s not worth it to me.
He hopes his story can be an example for others.
“I want to show all these young guys that it’s cool to cook and use it as a way to make an honest living,” Marshall said. “God gives the glory, and I tell the story.”
Jennifer Chandler is the food and restaurant reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
In one look
Mama Pug’s Sensational Candies
Or: 8046 Willow Tree Lane, Cordoba
Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Close on Sunday.
In line: facebook.com/mama.pugs.sweets
