When brother and sister team Laz and Ellie Koutromanos opened Honey Butter Cafe in October of 2020, they debuted a memorably sweet signature item, loukoumades (honey puffs).
The popular Greek sweet comprises an ultra-light, airy dough fried up like a doughnut hole and served soaked in honey with a waft of cinnamon.
But the Koutromanos didn’t stop there. They also introduced the Milwaukee area to myriad variations of the celebratory treat, including Nutella (Nutella and strawberries), Cookies and Cream (milk chocolate, white chocolate, Oreo crumbles); White Dream (white chocolate, crushed walnuts and strawberries); Honey Goat (honey, goat cheese, candied bacon); and Milk Caramel (milk chocolate, caramel drizzle, crushed walnuts).
The sweets received such a strong response among cafe regulars that the Koutromanos began to brainstorm ways to share the sweet treats more broadly, opening up the market to highlight Greek desserts. The obvious choice: a food truck.
A sweet truck like no other
In turn, they created a mobile operation that serves up not only their entire catalog of delicious loukoumades, but also treats like chocolate-covered baklava cheesecake (cheesecake, phyllo, walnuts, ganache); fried pita meli (phyllo dough filled with feta and goat cheeses, honey and sesame seeds); bougatsa (phyllo filled with custard and topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar); and baklava ice cream (Scratch ice cream with baklava chips).
Honey Butter Sweet Escape debuted last fall, showcasing a variety of pastries at various events including the cafe’s third-anniversary celebration. But 2024 will mark the first full season for the food truck, which will make appearances at farmers markets . It will also offer brunch, late-night and dessert catering for private parties, corporate events and weddings.
“We’re so excited to hit the ground running this season with Honey Butter Sweet Escape,” the Koutromanos note. “Our customers at Honey Butter Cafe are big fans and we can't wait to introduce our Loukoumades and other specialty Greek desserts to more people in the City of Milwaukee.”
Make your Sweet Escape
The mobile pastry truck is currently booking events, with plans to appear at:
- Root River Riverfest - Franklin
- Riverwalk Commons Concert Series - Milwaukee
- Motor Mania - Washington County Fairground
- Spankypalooza - Waterford
You can watch the truck’s Instagram and Facebook pages for details.
Honey Butter Sweet Escape is also available for private bookings. Their sweets are perfect for corporate gatherings, weddings, graduation parties and more. To book an event filled with brunch sweets, desserts or late night treats, call (414) 367-0589 or email info@hbsweetescape.com.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
