The love of baking, and the love of a good man have put Sarah Brandon back into business. “I had always loved to bake, and when I had babies at home, it was great to be able to run a business from home making cake pops.” Sarah smiled, “And then the law changed and I had to have a business location to be able to ship from.”  In Mississippi, it’s the law that you can’t ship ‘home-cooked’ food. Sarah ran her cake pop shop and shipped all over the country, but then after a divorce and a move to Memphis, she decided to work for someone else for a while.

“I had kids that I had to support and I found a steady, dependable income for my boys.”  Sarah laughed, “With my boys, I had to make sure they were all right.” After John Brandon showed up, Sarah learned to love again, and John changed her life in a big way.  “We decided to move to Fayette County, Somerville, because it was such a wonderful place,” Sarah’s smile lit up her face as she talked about her new home, “it feels like you are walking back in time just a little, in a very good way.  It’s safe, it’s happy, and everyone is so interested in making you a success!”

One day, before they were married, John brought Sarah to the Gin location.  He told her that this was going to be her new business. “She is so good at what she does, it’s her heart and passion,” John smiled with pride as he explained, “she needs to be happy!”  The Brandon’s vision for the Gin is not just a bakery, they also have venue space for everything from Weddings and Baby Showers, to Children’s Birthday Parties and Community events for civic groups to hold meetings.  Long range plans are to convert the barn next to them into something for larger functions. “Right now, we can hold about 50 - 60 people, but with that, anything is possible!” Sarah added. It makes a beautiful reception venue, the Brandons had their own wedding reception there, as the first real event. [We featured their wedding in the June Edition of Cypress].

The Gin is decorated in Vintage 50’s. Sarah loves ‘I love Lucy’ and has had a lot of fun with that theme.  From the Cake Display that her brother made for her from an old car, to the television that takes you back with vintage entertainment in black and white.  Everything is perfectly 50’s. Of course, right now, it’s also perfectly fall! “I love decorating for the seasons, and I have a lot of vintage Halloween and Fall decorations.  It’s fun creating a setting that changes with the calendar,” smiling, Sarah added, “and the Cake Pops are equally festive!” She has ghostly cake pops, airstream cookies with fall decorations on them, fall leaf cutout cookies, pies, and yummy fall cakes, along with her famous strawberry cake.  All of the baked goods are available with special order, or just stop by and see what she has created for the day - it might be minions, or unicorns, or something in the scary range as it gets closer to Halloween!

Lunch is also now being served. “I wanted to make sure that EVERYTHING we do is from scratch. We tried several different recipes until Cooper [one of her sons] added just a little something, and then our chicken salad was perfect.” Sarah went on to list her specials, “We also have pimento cheese sandwiches that are made from scratch every  day as well.” The daily specials include a sandwich, chips, drink and either a homemade cookie or a piece of luscious cake. All of her sons occasionally work with her, manning the register or making cookie dough. The treats at the Gin are a family affair, even Sarah’s sister helps out a day or two a week by baking pies from Grandma Bailey’s cherished recipes.

The Brandons you to visit them, at The Gin, just off of Highway 64 after you pass the Square in Somerville.  [16945 Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068] Or you can call and order, their special orders are beautiful - and can be custom creations.  901.633.0453.