Cream & Sugar Café
When you’re in Iuka, the Cream & Sugar Café at 100 Front Street in the heart of downtown is a must-see attraction. It’s set in an historic two-story brick structure that dates from the late-Nineteenth Century, with a façade that features ornate vertical steel beams forged by the old Memphis Steel Company which went out of business in 1910. And once inside, you take a trip back in time where the cavernous main room with its pressed tin ceiling is much the same as it was when Iuka’s mineral springs drew visitors from all over the country back in the 1890s. Cream & Sugar Café is across from Jaybird Park and Tishomingo Farmer’s Market, and it’s owned and operated by Laura and Russell Lind.
Cream & Sugar offers an extensive menu, and is a favorite breakfast spot not only for locals but also for the tourists who come into the area to enjoy Pickwick Lake. “We cater to a sort of blue-collar clientele,” Laura says, “not too fancy and reasonably priced. We serve good food for good people in a nice little community.” And while a traditional breakfast is Cream & Sugar’s staple, you don’t have to wake up early to order it. Laura and Russell open up at 7:00 and close at 2:00, Tuesday through Saturday, but they serve every item on the menu at any time. As Laura says, “You can get a burger at 7:00 and an omelet at 2:00.”
Since its opening, Cream & Sugar has continually expanded its customer base. “Iuka is a big tourist area,” Laura said, “and it’s mainly based on hunting, fishing & camping. The outdoors tourists have disposable income and are the natural clientele for local restaurants. We draw customers from Memphis, Tupelo, Mussel Shoals, Florence, the whole Mid-South region.” And Cream & Sugar’s draw to the downtown area has been an economic boon to the city. “Other than fast food places, we are the only breakfast place within a 30-minute drive.”
Echoing a theme common among local food producers, Laura said, “Finding a need in the area and fulfilling it has been a big part of our success.” Iuka’s downtown was in need of a full-service restaurant during regular business hours, and Laura and Russell saw an opportunity. In addition to breakfast, Cream & Sugar offers a tempting variety of snacks. “We partner with BeBe’s Custom Cakes in Iuka,” Laura said, “Cupcakes, brownies, and a specialty item each week. This week it’s blueberry biscuits and Danishes.” Their lunch menu is equally impressive with a wide array of sandwiches, burgers, and salads.
Cream & Sugar trues to use locally-sourced produce where feasible. “We get a lot of produce from a farmer who just drops by randomly and asks us what we need,” Laura said, “and, of course, we have the farmers market across the street, and we use seasonal vegetables and fruits when they are available.”’
“Local farmers come in, and if we need the inventory we’ll take some of their produce,” Laura said, “but the problem is a lack of sufficient quantity. Availability when needed is also a problem. We could use more produce framers in the area. We use a lot of Portobello mushrooms, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, brown leaf spinach, all of which could be grown around here, and all of which we would buy. “
When you’re in Iuka, stop by and see Laura and Russell and try some of their “good food for good people in a nice little community.”
The Best of Tishomingo County Food Awards for 2023 named Cream & Sugar Café the winner in the categories of “Best Atmosphere,” “Best Breakfast,” “Best Sandwich,” and “Best Service.” They are located at 100 Front Street in Iuka. Business hours are 7.a.m. until 2:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Their website address is Cream&Sugar Café.org.