Today, we’re at the world-famous LEWIS BARBEQUE in Charleston, South Carolina, to research the meaty deliciousness we’ve heard so much about. This is where pitmaster and barbeque legend John Lewis has created a world of his own in the vast field of freshly prepared barbeque and eats. If you know me and my addiction to creative chefs, pitmasters, and culinary pioneers, you know why we had to make the trip.
When you make the corner and pull up to LEWIS BARBEQE, you notice the massive modern restaurant that bears his name. To be honest, it’s breathtakingly beautiful and totally unexpected. Set up with a beautiful Charleston landscape encompassing large southern trees, it’s inviting, cozy, and warm. You feel right at home or in someone’s backyard enjoying BBQ. But you’re not! You’re at the world-famous LEWIS BARBEQUE fixing to slang back some of the BEST BBQ in the United States.
I live for telling back stories because anything tastes better with a little story-ness behind it. A trailblazer in the neo-traditional style of Central Texas barbecue, Pitmaster John Lewis uses his custom-made smokers to produce expertly smoked pork spareribs, beef ribs, “Texas hot guts“ sausage, and his legendary world-famous beef brisket.
John was born in Brooklyn, NY; when he was a kid, he moved to El Paso, TX. At 18, he packed up and moved to Austin to start his culinary career. Around this time, John’s parents gave him a New Braunfels smoker for his birthday, and he started dabbling in Austin’s longstanding tradition of backyard barbecue. He was soon getting creative with his smokers and meats, taking liberties with the design and construction to yield a better result. To this day, John has never purchased a premade barbecue pit or smoker, preferring to forge his own by hand. Through many years of trial and error, he’s achieved his desired results—a signature “John Lewis barbecue“ flavor and texture.
The rest, they say, is history! Moving to Charleston and opening LEWIS BARBEQUE, which offers a wide variety of fresh BBQ deliciousness and more. Meats, sides, sandwiches, desserts, nachos, chips and queso, beef tallow fries, the creations seem to be endless. Anything you order and bite into will be a TRIP STRAIGHT to DELICIOUSVILLE. You won’t stop at FLAVORTOWN because DELICIOUSVILLE is one stop past FLAVORTOWN and the end of the line. It doesn’t get any better than DELICIOUSVILLE!
We enjoyed a big tray of food: Flavor-loaded Hot Guts Sausage, Appetizing Green Chili Sausage, Juicy Smoked turkey, Succulent Pulled Pork, Bark-O-Licious Smoked Brisket, Pork-O-Licious Pork Ribs, Tasty Corn Pudding, Cheesy Mac-N-Cheese, creamy tator salad, Sweet and Savory Banana Pudding that tasted like perfection.
I’m just going to say this: The entire meal simply tasted like MORE because MORE is all I wanted.John’s new name is MORE, that’s right, MORE JOHN!
If you love freshly prepared deliciousness, then LEWIS BARBEQUE has what you need. I don’t think you should BLAME ME when you become addicted and have NAUGHTY BBQ DREAMS after you leave because it’s going to happen.
Before you leave, tell Ol’ MORE JOHN that Trey said HELLO!
Trey ( Chow Down ) Chapman Follow us for more delicious destinations and great travel locations.
Hello, dessert and sweet lovers. We have something special for you.
First, THANK YOU, Dr. Phil, for hosting us again on your Merit Street in the Morning National Morning show with our delicious and unique sweet treat destination list.
I love desserts, sweet treats, candies, cakes, cupcakes, and anything sweet. We’ve been traveling the USA coast-to-coast for years and compiled a list of some of the most creative, fresh, decadent, savory, and sweet treats everyone can enjoy.
If you are a true sweets lover, you’ll love this list. The great thing about this list is that you can visit one of the sweet treat locations in person to enjoy the sweet deliciousness or have them shipped. That’s right! Most can be shipped directly to your home, office, or anywhere with an address. It’s easy, and you can enjoy what we’ve been enjoying for years.
What is a sweet treat? A sweet treat is a unique and enjoyable food, such as candy, cookies, pies, pastries, desserts, donuts, chocolate bars, chocolate creations, and so much more. So many sweet treats are available that it’s truly an endless adventure. Sweet treats are good for your soul and can make you happy, pleasurable, and euphoric with every bite you take.
I’ve been addicted to discovering the best for years. In my travels, I found some fantastic dessert locations, candy shops, cookie makers, confectionery creators, and many others. I wanted to share them with you so we can all enjoy some savory, sweet deliciousness for the holidays.
Buckle up! It’s time to ride the sweet train to Deliciousville:
Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurants – 10 states 40 Locations
They are a from-scratch kitchen specializing in authentic inspirations from Mexico with a Texas twist and UNIQUE sweet and savory treats. The Chocolate Pinata is truly a unique sweet treat loved and shared by everyone.
Trey’s Fav: Chocolate Pinata SHAREABLE. DELICIOUS. A one-of-a-kind unique smashable dessert is a hanging piñata of dark chocolate filled with homemade churros and fresh fruit. It can be shared, smashed, and dipped into our decadent sauces.
Family owned it is a bakery and dessert brand founded by Jeff and Marissa Allen, a husband and wife duo with a passion for creating unique and delectable treats.They make big, buttery gourmet cookies baked in the homestyle way, served straight from the oven, and shipped fresh. They’ve been featured on Oprah Winfrey esteemed “Favorite Things,” Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Bake Magazine, Rachael Ray Magazine, D Magazine and Trey’s Chow Down. They’ve also shone bright on acclaimed shows like Good Morning America, NBA Finals Champion Black Business, and Saturday Morning.
Walk-in’s, take-out, TOGO, special orders, catering.
Mr. AppleNew Orleans, Louisiana – Ships Nationally
Locally and family-owned offering hand-crafted gourmet candy apples, praline treats, and candies prepared in small batches. Their apples are some of the most DECADENT and UNIQUE SWEET TREATS we’ve discovered in our travels.
Willa Jean Southern Bakery and Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana
Chef Brian Mottola brings Willa Jean to life with fablous and unique sweet treats. Its a cherished bakery in New Orleans’ heart, known for its comforting southern fare. A favored spot for locals and visitors alike. They been featured on many national TV programs and became famous with their cookies and milk creation.
Restaurant seating, walk-ins and counter pick-ups, and TOGO orders.
Trey’s FAVS: The warm cookies and milk served with the cookie dough on the BEATER.
Aunt Sally’s Creole Pralines and Shops– New Orleans, Louisiana
Made with their original family recipe and local ingredients, some of the most delicious pralines. Family-owned since 1935, you can taste the original family recipe that is unmistakably Aunt Sally’s Pralines with every bite. Offering serval different verisons of tasty pralines.
Walk-ins, take-out, and custom order pick-ups areavailable.
Ships Pralines Nationally: Classic and Creamy Pralines
Created in 2017 when co-founders Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley teamed up on a quest to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie, they dreamt of bringing people together over a box of the best cookies in the world.
Walk-ins, take-out, and custom order pick-ups areavailable.
Freshly Baked & Delivered Unique & Creative COOKIES
Barton G Restaurants – Miami Beach, and Orlando, FL and Los Angeles, CA
A Restaurant and bar offering famous over the top unique sweet treats that are truly unforgettable. They offer seating and reservations are suggested for all locations.
Trey’s FAVS: Over the Top MASSIVE desserts displayed like artwork.
Trey’s FAVS: Dollar Dollar Bill Y’all – GOLD BRICK JEWEL
Trey’s FAVS: Marie Antoinette – Cotton Candy Statute
Chef-driven extraordinary treats are handmade in our Austin, Texas, kitchen using nothing but the finest quality ingredients. So, if you love chocolate, you’ve come to the right place. Truly unforgettable!
Walk-ins, take-out, custom orders, pick-up, and shipping are available.
Trey’s FAVS: Hand-Crafted sweet treats, statutes, artwork, confections, dessert bars, bonbons and more
A chef-driven custom cake shop by celebirty chef Kristal Bryantspecializing in crazy sweet treats, shakes, cupcakes, pastries, and cookies. The original creator of the KOLLOSAL MILKSHAKES. She’s been featured on Food Network, Travel Chanel, Southern Living, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Trey’s Chow Down and many others. K and J is a place where chef kristal is a true originator of UNIQIE sweet treats. A must visit for your sweet tooth.
Walk-ins, Dine-in, take-out counters, and custom orders are accepted.
Trey’s FAVS: Hand-crafted Crazy Shakes, Cookies and Cup Cakes.
First original hand-crafted candy pickle company. Over 250 flavors of delicious candy pickles that will blow your mind. Ceator and confectionioner Heather Perkins is a true and UNIQUE SWEET creator that believes in making people happy with evry bite they take of her candied pickles. A must visit to enjoy!
Walk-in’s, TOGO, Pick-up, and Shipping Nation-wide
The Peach Cobbler Factory is home to the world’s most unique offering of desserts under one roof! You can enjoy warm, delicious cobblers with ice cream, banana puddings, savory, sweet cinnamon rolls, Pudd-N Shakes, Bigger & Better Cookies, Bigger & Better Brownies, Churro Stix w/Dipping Sauces, Belgian Waffles, and more! Wash it down with our Made-in-House Sweet Peachy Tea or Cold Rush Cold Brew Coffee.
Walk-in’s welcome, take-out, dine-in, custom orders pick-up available
POMPADOUR of Beverly Hills – Beverly Hills, California
Located in the most opulent city in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, this is the place to be if you want to schmooze with Hollywood icons and shop with local elites. They offer customized cakes, unique and decadent pastries, macarons, pistachio delight, pistachio eclairs, and so much more. You must visit them for savory, sweet deliciousness.
Walk-ins, seating, and take-out are available.
Trey’s FAVS: Pastry Treats, Custom Cakes, Macarons, Viennoiserie, MONO Tarts, and more.
Sugar Factory Restaurants & Candy Shops– USA Locations
With locations in some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, including Las Vegas, New York City, Bahrain, Chicago, Miami, Dubai, Orlando and Manila, Sugar Factory is known the world over for its celebrity-endorsed Couture Pops, which have turned sweets into the latest designer accessory. Over the top smokey goblets, sundaes, brunch dishes, and burgers. They’ve received widespread media attention from People Magazine, the Daily Mail, US Weekly, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Trey’s Chow Down, and more.
Restaurants, walk-ins, and take-out are available.
Trey’s FAVS: The Smokey Giblets, Monster Sundaes, and Monster Burgers.
Real Fruit, Unreal Flavor. Frozen grapes, mango, and pineapple splashed with lemon juice and coated in a sour candy-coating. Only 45 calories per serving.
Walk-in’s to over 3000 locations, and Shipping Nation-wide
Located in the historic Cigar Factory, Mercantile is an emporium of gourmet chef-driven culinary experiences. Offerings include a grab-and-go menu, coffee bar, butcher shop, pastry destination, chef’s counter, wine shop, and an elevated grocery program featuring products from local and regional vendors and purveyors.
Walk-in’s, Dine-in, take-out, TOGO and special orders accepted
Maimi’s famous award-winning UNIQUE cupcakes, cakes, and cake jars. Their founder and head chef, Letty Alvarez, has crafted a brand that goes beyond the frosting, rooted in a journey that began with hard work, determination, and a daring dream. From the heart of South Miami’s Sunset Place, Letty’s family-run bakery emerged, becoming a haven for those craving a taste of something extraordinary. LA Sweetz Cupcakes quickly rose to prominence, earning the spotlight on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, TLC’s Cake Boss & The Next Great Baker, Sugar Showdown, Unique Sweets, and other culinary competitions worldwide. Featured on food network, cupcake wars, Martha Stewart weddings, People, Cooking Channel and more.
Walk-in’s, Dine-in seating, TOGO, take-out, and Shipping Nation-wide
Trey’s Fav: Flavorful Mini Cupcakes, and Cake jars
After over 20 years of making sweets in celebrated kitchens worldwide, Chef Adam Thomas launched his brand, Thomas Craft Confections, in Brenham, TX. The rest is history, and now they are world famous for their sweet and savory confections.
Walk-in’s, Take-out, TOGO, and Shipping Nation-wide
Spot Dessert Bar – 4 Locations New York & Cherry Hill, NJ
Spot brings together decades of restaurant and cooking experience to create a dessert concept that emphasizes tradition and innovation. Think colorful, unique, and flavorful Western-style desserts influenced by Eastern flavors.
Walk-in’s, Take-out, and Dine- in Seating
Trey’s Favorite is the Harvest Dessert, served with raspberry sorbet on a bed of Oreo crumbs, homemade raspberry foam, and fresh Earl Grey milk tea.
A small family-run candy shop with a large selection of fresh candies, custom mixes, box candy, and more.
In April 2022, they purchased a renovated pop-up trailer and attended any event they were invited to in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and the surrounding areas. They had no idea how well received their little candy shop would be. They have a NEW storefront candy shop in downtown Chickasha, Ok.
Trey’s Fav: Fresh candies, gift boxes, and Snackle Boxes
Their hardworking kitchen team strives each day to create exceptional French macarons, Texas-size macarons ice cream, and ice cream sandwiches using high-quality, real ingredients. All JOY Macarons products are gluten-free.
Walkin-in’s, Take-out, some have limited seating, Shipping Nation-wide
Former Miami firefighter and Division-I football player Derek Kaplan, pie-lover and dessert extraordinaire, everything is baked from their award-winning shops from scratch. Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop focuses on bringing big flavors and smiles to our customers.
Walk-in’s, TOGO, Take-out, and Dine-in seating.
Trey’s Fav: Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Pie, Red Velvet Cheesecake Shake, Cheery Cheesecake Shake
Since 2004, Lady Fortunes has been manufacturing UNIQUE gourmet cookie and confection gifts and shipping nation-wide. They have been featured in publications like Entrepreneur Magazine, Macworld, Glamour, InStyle, ellen degeneres show, CNBC, food network, ABC, NBC, and many others.
Shipping Nation-wide
Trey’s Favs: GAINT fortune cookies and photo and logo cookies
They’re serving up tasty farm-to-kitchen dishes and cocktails out of their from-scratch-only kitchen and bar. UNIQUE Sweet treats so savory and delicious you will naughty dreams about them.
Restaurants, dine-in, TOGO, take-out, and special orders
Baking sweet memories since 1959 and family operated. Offering chef-driven, creative, and fresh custom cakes, cupcakes, pastries, cookies, macarons, cheesecakes, and king cakes. They’ve been Voted BEST of Las Vegas for over 40 YEARS. They’ve become one of the most famous bakeries with many television appearances and featured on Food Networks’ “Vegas Cakes” for their unique creations.
Walk-ins, take-out, special orders, and same-day delivery are available.
Yonutz Awesome and Unique Dessert Shops – USA Locations
A world where the ordinary is smashed! Hand-crafted fresh smashed donuts, smashed milkshakes, custom donuts andmore. They’re truly unique and prepared fresh to order at each location.
Walk-in’s, dine-in seating, TOGO, take-out, and catering
Sprinkles makesreal celebrations taste better with premium, baked-fresh daily cupcakes, cakes, chocolates, cookies, and more. Since 2005, Sprinkles has innovated its way to an ever-growing, loyal fan base for its unexpected flavors, on-demand Cupcake ATMs, convenient online ordering, and steadily expanding footprint of design-forward bakeries coast to coast.
The Yard Milkshake Bar was created by the husband-and-wife team of Logan and Chelsea Green. Chelsea knew she wanted it to be like no other dessert place she had ever been to and decided that crazy specialty milkshakes is just what they were looking for.That’s when “The Yard” was born.
Walk-in’s, dine-in seating, TOGO, take-out, special orders, Nation-wide shipping
Hand-crafted fresh prepared donuts using only the highest quality ingredients. They specialize in baked-from-scratch daily JUMBO DONUTS, donuts, kolaches, croissants, cookies, andchocolate-covered strawberries, and they offer an expresso bar.
It all started with a dream for better UNIQUE treats. At Pure Milk & Honey they are passionate about using natural, tasty, and wholesome ingredients. Their soft-serve ice cream is creamy and sweetened with just the right amount of quality honey to illuminate your taste buds and satisfy your sweet tooth. That’s right, HONEY! They use fresh and local Texas milk from a certified organic dairy farm, too. To abide by their dedication to quality and natural ingredients, they do not add artificial colors or flavors to our ice cream, thus preserving the milk’s purest form. They only use raw honey and honeycombs that are 100% pure and natural. They come from a local certified bee farm that manages their prized honey with the utmost care. They love that something as sweet and delicious as pure honey can also have an assortment of positive health benefits. Their treats are so tasty that they are addicting.
Walk=in’s, Dine-in seating, TOGO, Take-out and Delivery
Trey’s Fav: Everything they make! I LOVE this place. LOVE!
P.F. Chang’s Asian Restaurants– 40 States 214 locations
America’s number one Asian bistro. They take pride in bringing life to every dish through the ancient art of wok cooking. Grounded in the rich flavors of Asian cuisine and presented with a modern twist, their purposeful ingredients elevate each of our expertly crafted recipes.
Dine-in seating, bar seating, take-out, TOGO and delivery offered in most locations.
Well… Dolly is a real llama who lives on a beautiful farm in the South of France. She brings joy to everyone she meets and had a particularly positive impact on one of our founders. If you know your llama facts, you know that llamas are social, friendly, and outgoing animals who generally love people! Dolly, the French little llama, is all that and more!
Inspired to create a unique dessert concept, the founders agreed that Dolly would be the perfect representation for their ice cream and waffle brand. Dolly brings all that fun llama spirit into creative dessert concoctions, happy customers, and great, fun vibes! They are a genuinely unique, sweet creator and a must-visit.
It was SoHo in the 80’s and 90’s. The ‘hood was one of squeegee men and subway tags. Of working artists in spattered studios. Of boomboxes, blasting Run DMC, Tribe, De La Soul. that was then and this is now. Black Tap is keeping that timeless NYC vibe alive, all over the world. And the food? Well, the food’s just off the hook. They’ve got an A-list of legendary burgers that sweep awards like Meryl Streep. Outrageous CRAZYSHAKE® that nearly breaks the internet regularly. Wings that wow with flavor. Veggie options that raise the game. And, of course, a beer list worthy of our name. It’struly a UNIQUE sweet destination with the Outrageous CRAZYSHAKE®
Dine-in, walk-in’s, bar-seating, TOGO, take-out and shake bar.
Their nostalgic peppermint bark is the BEST I’ve ever enjoyed. It is often copied but never matched in quality or flavor. The once-a-year favorite is crafted using the finest ingredients, including custom-blended chocolate and double-distilled peppermint oil, and finished with a snowfall of peppermint candy pieces. The result is an unforgettable holiday confection with a perfect harmony of flavors and textures in every bite. “It is a Williams Sonoma exclusive.”
One of my favorite spots in the USA located in New Orleans. . This is a must-visit if you love to eat in a fun, vibrant, cozy, and historical atmosphere. You will have unforgettable lasting memories until you return.
Arnaud’s Restaurant – New Orleans, LA
A New Orleans icon steeped in over 100 years of rich history and culinary deliciousness, Arnaud Cazenave, a colorful French wine salesman, opened the grand New Orleans restaurant that bears his name with a commitment to serving quality Creole cuisine. Arnaud believed, quite simply, that the pursuit of the pleasures of the table is as worthy as anything else one chooses to pursue in life. A must-visit for fresh and unique sweet treats.
Walk-in’s, and bar seating but reservations are highly recommended.
Trey’s Favs: Banana Foster and any of their sweet treats because I’ve had all of them!
Please enjoy our sweet treats. Save the article and refer back to it when you need something sweet, you want to send someone a gift, or you need something for the holidays. It doesn’t matter the listr will be good anytime to satisfy sweet tooth cravings.
Trey (Chow Down) Chapman
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Barbeque lovers unite! We discovered a NEW delicious barbeque destination that every meat lover should visit. Welcome toPalmira Barbequein Charleston, South Carolina. When we heard about this now famous little BBQ joint you know we had to make the trip. We wanted to meet pitmaster Hector who is masterfully combining South Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico flavors to create award-winning and famous meaty deliciousness.
When I say famous and award-winning it’s a FACT! They’ve been featured in Forbes, Southern Living, The Local Palate, EATER Carolinas, Charleston Magazine,The Post and Courier, RESY, andTexas Monthly and I’m sure there’s more to come. We’ve been traveling coast-to-coast, from Los Angeles to Miami and every in-between, on the hunt for America’s BEST BBQ. We’ve visited thirty-one states on our BEST BBQ mission. It was only fitting after I read, researched, and viewed all the delicious social media posts Palmira was a must-visit for us.
If you follow our foodie and travel adventures, you know I love to tell the backstories. I’m a firm believer that anything tastes better with a good story. This is why the Palmira story was so intriguing to me because pitmaster and owner Hector Garatehas an interesting family history. Buckle up it’s story time!
When we visited, I was honored to spend some time with Hector walking around his smokehouse area and discussing the finer details of his success. We also discussed his passion for designing and creating custom smokers. He showed me his latest whole hog smoker and it was beautiful. After speaking with Hector, I noticed that his passion for creating BBQ perfection was only matched by his love for serving people and seeing them smile with the satisfaction of deliciousness.
Hector’s passion for BBQ started at an early age and has not stopped him from perfecting his craft since. Born in Puerto Rico, he was exposed to whole animal cooking pra early on. Hector specializes in smoking beef cheeks, brisket, whole hog, and house-made sausages. In the pursuit of creating the best product, Garate devoted their free time to building his custom cooking appliances, in particular an offset smoker. Hector has partnered with Brasstown Beef, Creekstone Farms, and Peculiar Pig Farms to source the most sustainable farm-to-table smoked meats for Charleston, SC through Palmira Barbecue. Palmira Barbecue’s name is an homage to Hector’s grandmother, who grew up on a sustainable cattle ranch.
The menu is loaded with a BIG variety of smoked meats like beef cheeks, barbacoa, brisket, phat beef rib, whole hog, pork ribs, BBQ chicken, chuleta kan and so much more. He also has rotating specials and fresh house-prepared sides like Puerto Rican beans, hash and rice, mac-n-cheese, and more. The sides complement his succulent meats. They’re so fresh, savory, and delicious that it’s a must that you pair with any BBQ when you enjoy your meal.
We chowed down on a beautifully presented tray of meaty deliciousness that was loaded with those South Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico flavors. It was packed with barbacoa, pork ribs, beef cheeks, whole hog, sausage, Puerto Rican beans, mac-n-cheese, hash and rice, and phat half chicken. We enjoyed it all but I did have some unforgettable favorites. The BEEF CHEEK, WHOLE HOG, and BARBACOA were smoked meat perfection and STUPID DELICIOUS. I discovered one important aspect after each bite I took. ” Hector and his culinary team do a masterful job with creative flavor explosions that are unforgettable.”
We enjoyed our visit to Palmira! It was well worth the trip from Texas to chow down on Hector’s creative and explosive flavors. If you LOVE BBQ, I would highly recommend you make plans to visit Palmira BBQ to enjoy some unforgettable flavors with a unique BBQ experience. You will love it and thank me later!
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