Sweet Mae’s began with a simple family recipe and a deep love for Southern hospitality. Founder Gayle Boone was raised along the shores of Mobile Bay in Fairhope, Alabama, where some of her earliest memories were built around food, family, and life on the water. Evenings were often spent gathered around the dinner table watching the sunset over the bay, enjoying fresh seafood, shrimp boils, stuffed crab, West Indies crab salad, gumbo, and simple meals prepared with care. Flowers clipped from the yard filled the home, and hospitality was woven into everyday life.

Gayle was deeply influenced by her mother, Betty Mae, whose warmth, creativity, and beautifully kept home shaped the heart behind Sweet Mae’s. Food was always at the center of how love was shown — creating a welcoming space where people gathered, lingered, and felt cared for.

Creativity also ran deeply through Gayle’s upbringing, inspired by Fairhope’s artistic community and a family filled with artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. Her passion for food, design, and entertaining later led her to intern with Southern Living during college, working alongside test kitchens, photographers, floral designers, and the creative teams behind Southern Living magazine and Southern Living at Home.

After years in corporate America, Gayle stepped away to pursue her own dream while homeschooling her daughter, Mae. What began as small-batch pimento cheese inspired by generations of family recipes has since grown into an all-natural brand featured in Earth Fare stores across the Southeast.

Today, Sweet Mae’s has evolved into both a beloved food brand and a Charleston-based private events company specializing in elevated full-service entertaining, raw bars, private chef experiences, floral styling, and thoughtfully curated coastal gatherings. At the heart of Sweet Mae’s remains the same foundation it was built on from the beginning — family, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and creating meaningful experiences through the love of food and hospitality.

“I told Gayle I wanted something funky, elevated, and unlike anything our guests had experienced before — and she exceeded every expectation. The vintage lobster cart she designed from a 1920s piece became the centerpiece of the evening. Guests could not stop talking about it. Every detail felt deeply intentional, layered, and beautiful.”

“I have never attended an event with this level of thoughtfulness and beauty. The lobster rolls were the best I’ve ever had, but what truly stood out was the artistry behind every detail. The vintage pieces, floral arrangements, oyster presentation, and custom lobster cart created an atmosphere that felt warm, elevated, and unforgettable.”

“Gayle has an incredible eye. Every corner of the event felt styled with purpose and Southern hospitality at its finest. From the old Charleston crates and heirloom silver to the flowers and linens, everything told a story. It felt like stepping into the pages of a magazine — but warm and personal at the same time.”

“Indulge in the creamy Southern comfort of Sweet Mae’s Pimento Cheese. Handcrafted with love and care, this iconic Lowcountry staple brings a touch of the South with every bite. Started in Charleston, South Carolina during the height of the pandemic, Gayle’s original and ghost pepper pimento cheese has flavor hints of Fairhope Alabama & New Orleans with Gulf Coast roots. Whether spread on crackers, slathered on sandwiches, or enjoyed on its own, it’s a taste that warms the soul, and delights the palate-and for Gayle, it’s a wink to her late mama, Betty Mae Boone.”

- Southern Flavor Magazine

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