Our Story
Matilda (Tillie) Dewes is remembered by her family not only for her kindness, love, and faith but also for her German baking. For as long as the Dewes family can remember, Grandma Tillie brought her famous gourmet cinnamon rolls, along with other German breads, to every holiday. Her recipes have been passed down from generation to generation throughout the family. Jeff recalls coming home from school and seeing the dining room table extended with all its’ leaves, flour everywhere, with grandma kneading, rolling, twisting, and baking sweet breads.
When Grandma Tillie passed away in 1975, Jeff’s mother, Juanita carried on the tradition of making the breads and rolls for every holiday. When Juanita passed in 2016, Jeff decided he wanted to carry on the legacy of making Grandma’s recipes for his family. It took about two years to perfect Grandma’s cinnamon roll recipe while having his father Joe, the youngest child of Tillie, taste test the product. Jeff knew he had perfected the recipe when his father took a bite, teared up and said, “It tastes just like mom’s.”
Jeff and his wife, Patti, decided to share this beloved family recipe at the 2020 Petoskey Farmer’s market during the Covid-19 pandemic. The rolls were a hit with every customer, causing them to sell out at each market. Jeff and Patti decided to lease a storefront in Petoskey and opened their doors to the public in December of 2020. They agree that Tillie’s Tafel (Tillie’s Table) is run by Grandma Tillie under their guise. Jeff says, “It’s just like Grandma to show her love and bring everyone together during a pandemic by offering her famous cinnamon rolls as comfort food.”
Tillie’s History
GRANDMA TILLIE’S FAMILY RECIPE
Grandma Matilda Dewes (Tillie), born 1889, crafted a cinnamon roll from a family German Recipe that is second to none. Her beloved family recipe has been passed down from generation to generation over the past 100 years. It is our pleasure to share with you Grandma Tillie’s Gourmet Cinnamon Roll. We know you will savor every bite of this generational blessing!
Guten Appetit! – Grandma Tillie
DID YOU KNOW?
