From our comunidad to yours.
This is our story.
Alelí began as a story of migration, creativity, and the shared belief that food can root us to one another. Our founding chefs, Lili and Alejandro, trained together at a culinary school in Mexico City before each made their way to Memphis in the early 2020s. Here, they crossed paths with Brett, a bright-eyed, Mexican-American entrepreneurial spirit, passionate about uplifting independent businesses and celebrating the cultural tapestry of the Mid-South. Together, they dreamed of offering their new community handcrafted, seasonal desserts made from fresh ingredients, creative flavor combinations, and the spirit of cultural curiosity. Named both for the fragrant Flor de Alelí and for the fusion of our chefs’ names, Alelí represents beauty, heritage, and collaboration. Every pastry we create is made from scratch, light on sugar, and designed with artistic intention—an invitation to savor authentic flavors and feel genuinely cared for. At our heart, we hope to bring joy, color, and connection to every table, adding our own vibrant thread to the communities we now call home.
Alelí nació como una historia de migración, creatividad y la creencia compartida de que la comida puede unirnos y arraigarnos. Nuestros chefs fundadores, Lili y Alejandro, se formaron juntos en una escuela culinaria en la Ciudad de México antes de que cada uno emprendiera su camino hacia Memphis a principios de los años 2020. Aquí, coincidieron con Brett, un espíritu emprendedor méxico-estadounidense, lleno de entusiasmo, apasionado por apoyar a los negocios independientes y celebrar la riqueza cultural del Mid-South. Juntos soñaron con ofrecerle a su nueva comunidad postres artesanales de temporada elaborados con ingredientes frescos, combinaciones creativas de sabores y un espíritu de curiosidad cultural. El nombre Alelí proviene tanto de la fragante Flor de Alelí como de la mezcla de los nombres de nuestros chefs, simbolizando belleza, herencia y colaboración. Cada postre que elaboramos está hecho desde cero, con un dulzor equilibrado y un toque artístico—una invitación a saborear sabores auténticos y sentirse verdaderamente cuidado. En nuestro corazón, buscamos aportar alegría, color y conexión a cada mesa, tejiendo nuestro propio hilo vibrante en las comunidades que ahora llamamos hogar.
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Alelí creates handcrafted, seasonal desserts made from scratch using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Our offerings include cakes (individual and group sizes), puff pastry creations, cupcakes, seasonal specialties, and curated boxed sets of filled or fruit-forward chocolate treats. We also craft delicate desserts such as mousse, panna cotta, charlottes, and other refined pastry creations. In addition to our rotating market and retail menu items, we specialize in custom orders and dessert catering, thoughtfully tailored to each client and occasion.
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You can find Alelí at several local markets throughout the Mid-South, at seasonal pop-ups, and at our retail partner location inside the Honor Forward store at Wolfchase Galleria (second level, near the food court). We also accept custom orders and event bookings online or by phone, making it easy to bring Alelí’s desserts to your next celebration.
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Yes! Alelí proudly caters weddings, baby and bridal showers, corporate events, and private parties. We offer a range of dessert and sweets table options, as well as savory selections such as charcuterie boards, Mexican treat tables, and curated snack spreads. Whether you’re envisioning something classic, creative, or culturally inspired, we work closely with our clients to design an experience that fits their event perfectly. If you have a unique request, we’re always happy to explore it with you.