Foodies Cafe just celebrated its first birthday after opening in the heart of historic Parramore last year. Since she was a young girl, founder of the cafe Aminah Hamidullah said she dreamt of owning a bookstore and coffee shop “where everyone knows each other by name, like Cheers.” A place to break bread over a nice cup of coffee — a place where games are played, stories are shared, and secrets are told.

In addition to this warm and inviting atmosphere, all the food is made from scratch and typically born from a family recipe. Aminah’s decadent cakes have five ingredients or less. Her chicken and waffles and Philly cheesesteak are the talks of the town, but it’s the coffee bar and cake that is Aminah’s pride and joy.

“My grandmother was a caterer and made lots of cakes for lots of people. Growing up, to lick the batter off the pan you had to name every spice that was in that batter,” she said. “I worked hard knowing what was in that batter, cuz I wanted to lick it. I have some of her recipes that I use for her cakes and pies here. In a way, I’m reliving her whole world.”

Hear Aminah talk about the cafe here. And if you’re hungry, head on over from Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for breakfast or lunch.

P.S. Our editorial fellow, Olivia (whom we miss dearly), recommends the chicken and waffles (the syrup is out of this world) while our director Katie says to order the croissant breakfast sandwich. (If you’re smart like us, you’ll go with a friend so you can have both). Tell Aminah we sent you and be sure to say hi to Fatima, she’ll be serving up candied bacon and smiles from the kitchen.

🎉 COME WORK FOR OUR TEAM  🎉

Quick reminder! The deadline for two jobs on our WhereBy.Us storytelling team is this Friday, Oct. 26. We’re hiring a social producer to help us up our social meme skills, and a senior producer to help us get even more creative with our newsletters. Know someone great? We’d love to hear from you.

Pitching in. A group of the country’s top professional wakeboarders hit the water in Orlando’s Conway Chain to pick up trash and raise awareness about Lake Cleanup Month. The athletes recovered several buckets full of trash — most of it plastic water bottles — that got caught in tall grass. One way you can chip in: Get a reusable water bottle, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. (WSIA)

A progressive wave? Central Florida’s changing demographics, coupled with new energy among young and non-white voters, has caught the attention of the New Yorker, which published a story this week asking “Is the Sun Belt Really Becoming Progressive?” Signs pointing to “yes” include the number of races featuring young candidates like Andrew Gillum and the growing number of registered Democrats in Orange County. (New Yorker)

No soup for Trump. Orlando celebrity chef Norman Van Aken has declined an invitation to cook for President Donald Trump at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser for St. Jude Research Hospital. Van Aken, who owns the long-running Norman’s restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, said he was torn about the decision but did not want to be seen as “a take-a-check-and-who-cares kind of guy.” (Miami Herald)

Sprouting like weeds. Niche grocery stores are popping up all over Central Florida these days, and the new Winter Park Sprouts store marks the latest chain that caters to customers who prefer organic and natural foods. So, what sets them all apart? The Sentinel has a side-by-side comparison. (Orlando Sentinel)

Lucky winners. The big Mega Millions jackpot may have gone to someone in South Carolina, but coming in as a runner-up isn’t so bad, either. Two winning tickets sold at stores in Orlando and Lake Mary are worth $3 million and $1 million, respectively. (WESH 2)

👋 SEE YOU TOMORROW

Bright and early, you know how we do it….

Have a super sweet day, Orlando,
— Pulptown