Bill Coxwell's culinary journey at his café on Central Avenue in Summerville is a delight. His unique take on Southern comfort food has won the hearts of many. With a cozy café and a giftshop filled with local art and gourmet treats, it's a must-visit place.

Experience Southern Comfort with a Twist at Sweet Azalea

Unique Café and Menu

Bill Coxwell's Sweet Azalea Gourmet Shop and Catering is nestled in a small building that once housed a golf accessory store and barbershop. Four years ago, he opened the giftshop, and when the barbershop moved, he combined the spaces to add a café. The café is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu is quite small but offers a variety of delights. There are sandwiches, salads, and daily specials. One of the daily specials that caught our attention was the Marry Me Chicken, accompanied by butter beans and pineapple casserole. The chicken cutlet was smothered in a rich, creamy sundried-tomato cream sauce and baked to perfection.The butter beans were slow-cooked and seasoned exceptionally well. They added a wonderful depth of flavor to the meal. The pineapple casserole was less sweet and more savory than we were accustomed to, but we found it quite enjoyable. It offered a unique twist to the traditional dish.

Local Art and Gourmet Gifts

The giftshop at Sweet Azalea is a treasure trove of local art, gourmet food, and food gift ideas. Coxwell's homemade cheese straws are packaged in pretty tins featuring local artists' work. There are an array of jams, jellies, relishes, mustards, nuts, peanut brittle, cookies, mixes for cheese balls and dips, and ready-made homemade casseroles and soups available. He also creates custom gift baskets, showcasing his love for local art and food.Coxwell takes pride in sharing the work of local artists like Vicky Greene, Judy Avrett, and Melanie Shelnutt. He often commissions them to create unique designs for his food packaging. The shop features works inspired by Masters themes, magnolias, azaleas, and other Augusta-specific motifs.

Cookbooks and Seasonal Menus

Coxwell has written several cookbooks, and his latest, "Southern Menus, Season by Season," was released in October. This book is a treasure trove of ideas and recipes for creating seasonal menus. For example, during Christmas, the recipes include Cranberry-Champagne Sipper, Crustless Crab Quiche with Asparagus, Apple-Sausage Casserole, Mother's Banana Nut Bread, and Spinach and Cheese Muffins. These recipes are not only easy to follow but also use ingredients that are readily available.The book also includes recipes for food gift ideas for the holidays. Recipes like Lynn's Cranberry-Pecan Bark, Sour Cream Corn Muffins, and Classic Date Nut Bread are perfect for gifting. They add a touch of Southern charm to any holiday celebration.You can find Coxwell's last book at Sweet Azalea. It is also available for purchase online from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.