Olga’s Kitchen teams up with Avalon Bakery for desserts

Avalon’s Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk Cookie and a new take on the Birmingham’s Best Brownie are now available

By Lee DeVito

Nov 15, 2023 at 11:24 am

Image: A baker makes Birmingham’s Best Brownie for Olga’s Kitchen.

A baker makes Birmingham’s Best Brownie for Olga’s Kitchen. Courtesy photo

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Metro Detroit-based restaurant chain Olga’s Kitchen announced a new partnership with Avalon International Breads, continuing its recent trend of joining forces with local brands.

Under the deal, Olga’s is now offering Avalon’s favorite Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk Cookies, as well as a new twist on the Birmingham’s Best Brownie from Olga’s.

Customers can try a free brownie when dining in at Olga’s from Nov. 20-22.

“As iconic Michigan brands both founded by women, it was a natural choice for Olga’s Kitchen and Avalon Bakery to partner together to deliver unique and delicious flavors to our guests,” Loredana Gianino, director of marketing at Olga’s Kitchen, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Avalon provides elevated dessert options to complement the existing menu that Olga’s fans know and love while supporting a locally owned and celebrated business.”

Olga’s was founded in 1970 by the late Olga Loizon, who made a name for herself baking pita bread and eventually led a Greek-America chain that became ubiquitous in metro Detroit shopping malls, beloved for its Snackers. Loizon died in 2019 at 92.

Avalon International Breads was founded in 1997 in Detroit’s Cass Corridor by Ann Perrault and Jackie Victor.

“Partnering with Olga’s Kitchen will allow us to bring our beloved desserts to new audiences across Michigan,” Victor said in a statement. “As we expand our platform, we will continue to bring the same care and sense of community that has made us Detroit’s ‘hearth and soul’ for the past 25 years.”

Olga’s has also recently partnered with Hot Ones-famous Hell Fire Detroit for a Spicy Chicken Olga sandwich, as well as McClure’s Pickles for a Shrimp Po’Boy Olga.

Earlier this year, Olga’s Kitchen also started serving food inside Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium for the 2023-2024 season.

Slideshow

Michigan-based chain restaurants that are actually good [PHOTOS]

Olga’s Kitchen Multiple locations, olgas.com Founded by entrepreneur Olga Loizon in 1970 in Birmingham, the Greek-American chain grew rapidly during the height of the shopping mall era. Headquartered in Livonia, the chain is known for its Olga bread and especially its Snackers, or triangular pieces of pita served with cheese spread. The eponymous Olga died in 2019 at age 92.

Buddy’s Pizza Multiple locations, buddyspizza.com Originally a speakeasy known as Buddy’s Rendezvous, what we now call Buddy’s was founded in 1946 and is known as the creator of Detroit-style pizza, which as legend has it was created using a metal tray used for auto parts. The company has grown alongside the square-shaped pies’ popularity, and it now has more than 20 locations across Michigan.

Biggby Coffee Multiple locations, biggby.com This Lansing-based company was originally known as “Beaner’s Coffee” and eventually became one of the fastest-growing coffee chains in the U.S. It has more than 280 locations throughout the country.

Bagger Dave’s Multiple locations, baggerdaves.com Founded in Berkley in 2008, this burger chain once had 26 locations across the Midwest. It now has just six, including two in metro Detroit.

Fishbone’s Detroit Multiple locations, fishbonesusa.com Established in Detroit in 1989, this chain is known for its live music and New Orleans-inspired menu. It has locations in Detroit, St. Clair Shores, and Southfield.

Zo’s Good Burger Multiple locations, zosgoodburger.com After starting by slinging burgers out of a Dearborn gas station in 2013, this chain now has five locations in the Detroit area. The company is known for its halal-friendly offerings, including its signature “Good Burger” which comes loaded with cheese sticks, onion rings, and special sauce held together under a pretzel bun.

Dominos Multiple locations, dominos.com Now a massive multinational pizza chain with thousands of stores all over the world, the chain had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1980 in Ypsilanti by two brothers who purchased an existing pizza chain called DomiNick’s with just a $500 down payment. The company’s headquarters is in nearby Ann Arbor Township.

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About The Author

Lee DeVito

Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City. He once asked porn star Stormy Daniels to spank him with an issue of Metro Times. She obliged.

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