Blue Ridge Local Gem: Rum Cake Lady’s Cuban Cafe

One of the things my husband and I LOVE about Blue Ridge is the food scene. There is literally something for everyone– so much so that you can take a Blue Foodie Tour if your heart so desires! But the focus for today’s  blog post is on a special gem, and something you might not expect to find in this neck of Georgia: CUBAN FOOD!

You heard me right. Authentic Cuban Food in the heart of Blue Ridge and McCaysville, GA. 

I’m talking, of course, about Rum Cake Lady’s Cuban Cafe, where you’ll find simple (but DELICIOUS) homemade “just like mami used to make” food served with a lot of heart. It’s a fast-casual cafe where you can get a full meal or come for dessert: delicious coffee and their famous rum cake. There’s a comfortable grassy seating area with picnic tables that has a good vibe, so eat in or take your order to go if you want to dine with a view in one of our awesome cabins.

Owner and founder Liz Correa, (aka the Rum Cake Lady), was born in Camagüey, Cuba. After living in Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida, Liz and her family moved to Blue Ridge looking for a slower pace of life. After one year of “retirement”, Liz started baking her family recipe rum cakes and selling them at local farmers markets. Seeing a need for authentic Cuban food, she opened The Rum Cake Lady Cuban Cafe in 2015. The Blue Ridge location followed in 2017 and the MCCaysville location in 2019. 

The core of their menu centers on several different kinds of Cuban sandwiches– from the traditional Cuban with roast pork, bolo ham, swiss cheese, mustard and pickles; to a vegan option that gets rave reviews using delectable plantains and fresh spinach. Their sides are amazing as well: try their yuca fries, empanadas, or even their freshly made soup and you’ll go home happy!

But you can’t miss out on the desserts– this IS the Rum Cake Lady after all! There are so many different flavors to try: from seasonal pumpkin spice rum cake balls, to chocolate salted caramel rum cake, grab a few and a cup of coffee to go– you might not even make it to the car with these uneaten- they are that good!

Check out hours and locations here.