Gourmet, custom sugar
cookies are The PDR!
Sugar cookies may not
be anything new, but the
creativity and detail in The PDR’s
cookies sure are. Birmingham,
Alabama-based baker Syrah
Gilley has recently combined her
knowledge from design education
and her love of all things culinary to
create these little drops of heaven.
Syrah’s appreciation for art and
cooking shine through each batch
of hand-made cookies. The artist
in her allows her yummy creations
to provide satisfaction to the
plethora of attendees of holiday
parties, celebrations, and weddings.
Depending on the event, PDR
will provide cookie creations to
emphasize any theme.
Urbanette Magazine:
The name,
Piece de Resistance is so charming.
Where did the French influence
come from?
Syrah Gilley:
Thank you! The name
comes from a French phrase that
means “the outstanding item, the
most important dish of a meal.” I’ve
always loved the phrase, and when
I started baking cookies, I realized it described
exactly what
I wanted
my sweets
to be. The
French truly value every aspect of
food and the experiences shared
around it. They take pains to ensure
each item is made from the best
ingredients and with utmost care. I
have always admired that and strive
to achieve that same appreciation.
Urbanette:
How did you get into
baking?
Syrah:
When I first started baking
at home, I was cooking in my
absolute favorite restaurant here
in Birmingham. I started with
gingerbread cookies around the
holidays and posted them on Etsy.
They were a huge hit so I continued
to create more designs and recipes
to sell year round. It kept growing
little by little until my hobby became
a business. I love knowing I’m making
a unique item made with the freshest ingredients and attention to detail
that surpasses any you’ve ever tried
before it.
Urbanette:
You are keen on “local”
products, production, ingredients, etc.
Why is this such an important facet of
your business?
Syrah:
The flavor you get from freshly
harvested produce is worlds above
anything you can buy at your big box
grocer. I think the best example of
this is tomatoes. If you taste a tomato
grown in your backyard (or down
the road) you’ll realize it has a juicy,
bright, spectrum of flavors. You can
taste this freshness that doesn’t come
in mass-produced tomatoes shipped
a week ago that were picked before
ripening. Not only does local produce
taste better, in most cases it has more
nutrients, has been treated with less
chemicals, and uses less fuel to get
from farm to kitchen.
Buying local reaches far beyond
produce as well. Buying anything
produced in your community keeps
your money local, the more you
fuel your own community the more
successful it will be. A successful
community has plenty of businesses,
big and small, that can nurture local
skills sets and talent. Which in turn
creates more fulfilling jobs. This
domino effect can turn the economy
of a community around, and when
achieved in multiple communities, it
will boost our national economy.
So
buy local! PDR can be reached through
www.pdrsweets.com
