There’s a Gulf Coast morning breeze coming in from the ocean, you’re low on time but crave a fresh breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, where do you go? Look no further than Buzzcatz Coffee & Sweets. The restaurant features a large and welcoming enclosed front porch, lined with tables that beckon you to sit down and take in the beachy-scenery, adorable decor and zany logo—all parts of what make Buzzcatz special.
Buzzcatz Salted Caramel Iced Latte//Kaitlan Foland
There’s no shortage of breakfast-based restaurants, but what makes Buzzcatz a standout eatery is the promise of fresh, made-from-scratch cuisine with absolutely no preservatives or additives. That may sound like a trendy cliche, but at Buzzcatz, the fresh-never-frozen promise runs a lot deeper than a simple trend, which is why it was one of our most memorable stops on the Alabama Gulf Coast Tour hosted by Geiger & Associates Public Relations and the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Department. The tour is meant to highlight the island communities’ emerging culinary scene with stops at some of the most renowned restaurants along the Gulf Coast.
Buzzcatz Brownie//Kaitlan Foland
Having opened in May 2016, the restaurant is affectionately referred to as ‘the perfect coffee and dessert spot’ where the owners only goal was to provide patrons the opportunity to drink locally roasted small batch coffee and eat made-from-scratch sweets and savories. In speaking to Buzzcatz chef Kimberly Asbury, a woman whose pastries and baked goods already taste perfect, she says her work (and re-work) of a recipe is never truly done. She is constantly trying to master her own craft and better each already-amazing recipe that graces the menu.
Chef Asbury is a crucial component to Buzzcatz. Having graduated at the top of her class from Penn College with a degree in baking and pastry, her superior skills, even when in college, earned her the John Folse Award for Excellence. In 2017, Chef Asbury also won the International Biscuit Festival, making her the official International Biscuit Grand Champion for her Scotch Egg Biscuit. The point I’m trying to make is that everything she touches turns into delicious, and sometimes award-winning baked goods, and I had the pleasure of tasting a few.
Buzzcatz Brown Butter Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies//Kaitlan Foland
As the tour sat down on the beautiful white, shaded patio, we were served an array of baked goods, courtesy of Buzzcatz. At first, we thought they were almost too beautiful to dig into – no worries, we managed to get over that feeling fairly quickly. The dishes we sampled were the cinnamon rolls, both classic glazed and the cream cheese, Buzzcatz “PopTarts” with handmade filling and pastry crust, a chef special of Brown Butter Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies, Tiramisu and a Buzzcatz fan-favorite brownie.
Buzzcatz Tiramisu//Kaitlan Foland
Every single dish tasted was out-of-this-world delicious. That being said, the tiramisu has my heart. Exceptionally light, fluffy and creamy; I would pay to eat this tiramisu every day. Luckily, Buzzcatz offers this mouthwatering dessert for $4, and that’s a steal.
Desserts aren’t the only thing available, however. Buzzcatz is also known for its incredible breakfast menu. One of the more notable dishes being the Breakfast Hollah, which is made with a housemade Challah Dough and filled with fresh scrambled eggs, cheese and other ingredients of your choosing. The Breakfast Hollah is completely customizable based on your taste preferences, but its also completely portable, making it the perfect, freshly made grab-and-go breakfast.
Buzzcatz Homemade PopTarts and Cinnamon Rolls//Kaitlan Foland
And then, the locally-roasted small batch coffee; how much more can I say about the enjoyability of one restaurant? Much more if you’ve tried the coffee. I chose a Salted Caramel Iced Latte and instinctually asked for “half the normal sweetener.” I was then pleasantly reminded where I was when the server said, “We can do that, but you should know we don’t use any artificial sweeteners or syrups, to begin with.” Upon getting the drink, I was glad I took the servers advice to not mess with the proportion of ingredients. The latte was slightly nutty and exceptionally bitter with a full, but not overwhelming, flavor of the salted caramel, which perfectly complemented the robust coffee.
Buzzcatz Salted Caramel Ice Latte//Kaitlan Foland
Patrons should know, the coffee isn’t just delicious. By purchasing Buzzcatz coffee you are directly giving back to The Orange Beach community. Buzzcatz has teamed up with an Orange Beach Animal Care and Control Program that is aiding the city in achieving a goal of having its own feral cat shelter with a proper trap and release program. A portion of proceeds from coffee sales goes toward funding the program, which is near and dear to the Buzzcatz employees’ and patrons’ hearts.
So, what more do you need from an eatery besides mouthwateringly delicious fare with a side of charity, a love for animals and a great appreciation for the community? For me, Buzzcatz Sweets & Coffee hit every mark perfectly. I’d not only recommend this eatery if you’re in the area, I’d practically demand that you go.
The Food Channel toured Buzzcatz as part of an initiative sponsored by the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Department, hosted by Geiger & Associates Public Relations, Inc.
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