Following a significant loss, Ellen Dawe was thrown into a new reality where her grief was entwined with the duties of parenthood. She struggled with the burden of her new duty as both nurturer and provider after becoming a widow with children. However, in the midst of the devastating grief, Dawe realized she had to find a way to support her family while still being there for them. Her experience with FarmHouse PoundCakes thus started as a reminder that even in the worst moments, there is always hope and fresh starts, as well as a monument to perseverance in the face of hardship.
From crafting soap to baking
Instead of starting with wheat and eggs, FarmHouse PoundCakes started with lye and palm oil. With the help of a friend, Ellen Dawe began experimenting with the alchemy of creating specific washing solutions. She jumped, displaying her crafts at the emerging Braselton Artisan Festival, a bi-monthly gathering of artists and merchants gathering on the picturesque fields close to old downtown Braselton, after honing her craft and building a stockpile. Dawe put her tent and her hopes on her handmade soaps, but she made the fatal choice to add slices of a homemade pound cake since she had a sharp eye and a little intuition. And sure enough, her pound cake servings sold out, demonstrating the incredible response.From preparing delicious pound cakes to producing soap! (Homemade Pound Cakes)
Ellen followed suit, representing the cottagecore ideal of many women by moving from woodswitch to baker with ease. She moved her business from Braselton’s Artisan Festival to the picturesque Washington Farms, a tranquil strawberry patch in Oconee County, Georgia, much like dessert-loving Mildred Pierce. Amid the rows of delicious strawberries, lively kids, and blossoming trees, Ellen’s pound cakes were a success once more and quickly sold out. Determined and resourceful, she installed a professional kitchen in her house, filled it with hundreds of cakes, and again found success after opening a shop at the Suwanee Farmers Market, where she would run out of stock in a matter of hours.As things naturally developed, Ellen started looking for a physical store to sell her goods. Thus, FarmHouse PoundCakes’ farmhouse theme.
I had always wanted an ancient farmhouse, so I knew it was meant to be when the chance to buy the one on ancient Athens Highway presented itself. I made the decision to start my business there at that point. But I was only allowed to work out of my front room due to county laws. Unfazed, I decided to create an atmosphere that would evoke Grandma’s house, a historically significant location with origins that go all the way back to 1832. Every element, from the soothing creak of the veranda to the satisfying bang of the screen door, was thoughtfully chosen to generate feelings of coziness and nostalgia.
Ellen accomplished nothing less than perfection in this quest.
Discovering FarmHouse
At best, I consider my finding of FarmHouse PoundCakes to be coincidental. I found her business, which is tucked away along Old Athens Highway, after taking a wrong turn. A cancelled doctor’s appointment gave me the ideal reason to stop by early on Thursday afternoon.
I couldn’t help but admire the beautiful Victorian house as I drew into the driveway. A charming trail led into the neighboring woods, the yard was decked out with outdoor lawn games, and fanciful umbrellas beckoned guests to enjoy the scenery. But what really caught my eye and set the tone for what was to happen was the image of a fat black cat stretching idly on the large covered porch.
I can still clearly remember how thrilled I was to walk through the door and enter the quaint world of FarmHouse PoundCakes. With baskets of delicious sweets and references to the well-loved Scottish historical fiction book Outlander, which I had just finished reading, the room radiated the ideal coziness and nostalgia. As a history buff with a taste for Early Modern Europe, I was overjoyed to discover a fellow traveler at such a surprising place in North Georgia.
Shortly after, the sophisticated and self-assured proprietor came out of the kitchen, clearly identifying himself as the establishment’s genius.
Moving on
As we talked about her business, Outlander, her impending sabbatical in Scotland, and the mouthwatering cuisine, our conversation flowed naturally. I ordered a lot more than I had planned to since I was overwhelmed by the selection of enticing delicacies.
I couldn’t help but give her adorable cat, Louis, a final pat before saying goodbye. When I got home, I carefully opened the paper bag containing my order, choosing to indulge in a rich, dense pound cake rather than just eat it. Just as I found her haven a half mile from my home, I wished she would not be closing for the autumn to travel around the United Kingdom. Even worse, I found out that the store would be sold a few months later! Any remaining disappointment, though, was soon allayed when I learned that a new location will be opening ten minutes from my residence.
Even though I was disappointed to see such a great place close, I couldn’t help but be happy that downtown Cornelia would now have this elegant and traditional restaurant.
New beginnings
Customers were greeted at FarmHouse PoundCakes’ new site. Eager visitors gathered in 2024 to take in the exquisite restoration of a once-ancient structure. Dim lighting blends in perfectly with natural light in the d cor, which has a straightforward yet elegant early American colonial feel. The atmosphere mimics the refinement of a high-end Williamsburg eating establishment, so it doesn’t feel outmoded.
The wall behind the bar features a visually arresting menu that is reminiscent of the design found at Silos Baking Co. It adds a millennial touch that is in line with the style frequently seen on Pinterest boards of hipsters who are turning outdated in-wall kitchen tables into stylish coffee stations. It’s more Ballerina Farm than Little House on the Prairie, to put it briefly.Enjoy a hearty, well-balanced, and delectable lunch at FarmHouse PoundCakes, replete with iced coffee, espresso, and substantial servings, while lounging in padded Victorian dining chairs by the bay window. (The Cute North Georgian Magazine/Carly McCurry)
But more than appearances, FarmHouse PoundCakes’s reputation is based on the quality of its meals and a menu that draws inspiration from its extensive travels around Europe.
In 2023, Ellen set out on a gastronomic trip that brought her to a number of picturesque places in England and Scotland. Every destination provided a culturally significant pleasure, from the magnificent castles of Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye to the charming surroundings of Grassington in Skipton. She enjoyed delicious shortbread with toffee at the Coach House bakery in Loch Lomond, and a Salted Caramel Victoria Sponge Cake from Mackenzie’s bakery on the Isle of Skye pleased her taste buds. Ellen excitedly added these new tastes to the FarmHouse PoundCakes menu after her return, incorporating the spirit of her incredible journey into her creations. My personal favorite is a scone with jam and clotted cream.
When asked how she feels about FarmHouse PoundCakes moving to Cornelia, Ellen says she is really happy about it and thinks it was one of the best choices she has ever made. This has been demonstrated by the rise in foot traffic, as more people are now coming in for lunch in addition to her pound cakes.
Looking ahead
Ellen intends to grow her little kingdom in the future, but she will keep the details hidden in the pockets of her apron. She does, however, allude to an outpost in the distinctly upscale and gentrified City of Clayton. Her expanding line of specialty drinks, which includes her own take on the Arnold Palmer, as well as fruity blends, iced coffees, lemonades, and espressos so smooth and irresistible that they elicit knowing side-eyes and porch-whispered judgments, is part of the idea.
Dawe’s ambitions for the future are driven by her commitment to provide her customers the best possible experience, which will guarantee that FarmHouse PoundCakes survives and continues to amaze customers with its outstanding products.
Ellen’s experience with FarmHouse PoundCakes is proof of her fortitude, willpower, and—yes—the perseverance needed to get through life after loss. Ellen’s story is an inspiration to everyone who encounters hardship, from the depths of bereavement to the pinnacles of culinary achievement. Her business spirit and dedication to excellence have not only improved her personal life but also the city of Cornelia, Georgia. Ellen no longer lives as an Outlander but rather as a vital member of the community as FarmHouse PoundCakes flourishes and delights customers with its outstanding products.
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