Levi Rollins

You know you’re getting a special sandwich when the videographer has to adjust his camera angle to take in the colossal masterpiece.

That’s exactly what happened when Levi Rollins, owner of Salt & Sugar, appeared with Fox 26 television food correspondent Katie Stone during a live broadcast last month from his new eatery in the Spring Branch Management District.

Stone was reporting about the merger of two Houston businesses — World Catering & Bakery and Urban Eats — to form one new restaurant, bakery and catering outfit at 1073 Silber Rd.

Rollins, who opened Urban Eats in 2014 on Washington Avenue near downtown, said closing Urban Eats was one of the most painful things he ever had to do.

“I loved it. I was there every day. It just became too expensive to operate the building,” he said on Fox 26. “The bottom line is we couldn’t afford our concept in that space.”

As they say, timing is everything. Rollins said that the Monday after he closed Urban Eats he heard there was a bakery for sale — and he “fell in love.”

World Catering & Bakery had been in business since 1989.

Rollins and business partner Armando Velasquez jumped on the opportunity, opening Salt & Sugar on Feb. 19.

“We merged with the business, keeping the staff and recipes,” Rollins said. “We added new items from the Urban Eats menu, merging the best of both concepts to create Salt & Sugar.”

The concept offers an extensive sandwich assortment as well as traditional plated entrees previously offered at Urban Eats. In addition, the bakery element of the business is much stronger in the new location, Rollins said, as they inherited talented bakers and an amazing pastry chef.

“I’d love the community to envision us as their neighborhood ‘go-to’ for great hand-crafted food and sweets.  We’re independently owned and operated, and we’re on site everyday and appreciate hearing from our customers,” he said.

So far, things are going well.

“We’ve had great support from both our loyal Urban Eats supporters and the Spring Branch neighborhood. Many people are also joining us from Memorial and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Rollins said.

For him, being a restaurant owner is a family tradition. His grandmothers operated restaurants, and “I was often under their feet.” Rollins’ mother was also a great cook, he said, and taught him about flavor pairings.

Prior to operating Urban Eats, Rollins was the vice president of international sales for a Houston-based cosmetics company.

“I spent many years traveling the world and had the great privilege to meet the amazing people and experience the food culture in over 60 countries,” he said.

It seems appropriate then for Rollins to merge his business with one that had “world” right in its name.

Salt & Sugar specializes in made-to-order sandwiches and salads, handcrafted entrees and artisanal baked goods. It also offers custom-made cakes and desserts under the expert direction of World Catering & Bakery’s pastry chef Meagan Martinez.

Rollins said that under the merger, he was able to offer more catering options including everything from boxed lunches, bulk packages and charcuterie to custom birthday cakes, wedding cakes and cupcakes.

“With a commitment to quality, every bite tells a story and every dish is crafted with passion. We are so honored to serve Houston again. Their support has always fueled us,” Rollins said.

Salt & Sugar
1073 Silber Rd.
https://www.eatsaltandsugar.com/

— by Dorothy Puch Lillig