Houston’s The Puddery received a $50,000 surprise donation from TikTok food critic Keith Lee to support its expansion. The Pearland-based dessert shop, famous for its banana pudding, saw a massive spike in business after Lee’s rave 2023 review.
The Puddery is a dessert shop in Pearland that was surprised by famous TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee with a $50,000 donation to help it grow. The gift comes after Lee reviews The Puddery's banana pudding that went viral in 2023. In that review, he said it was one of the best sweets he had ever had.
In a recording that came out last week, Lee walked into the shop to tell the owner, Janel Prator, about the gift.
Prator said, "I thought he was just back to follow up." " The donation came as a shock to the shop owner.
Before Lee's review in 2023, The Puddery was having a hard time. There were times when they only had two people a day. Lee rated the shop's banana pudding 9/10 and said the croissant-based treat was "immaculate."
After that, lines formed around the building. "It was like a theme park when we first got the review," he said.
At one point, the shop had to temporarily close to restock and hire more staff because of the high demand.
With Toast, a business that makes software for running restaurants, a $50,000 donation will help The Puddery move into a bigger space in the same Pearland shopping center. Prator is also starting a food truck in Jersey Village. It will begin running in April 2025.
Lee also said he would give another $50,000 to a different small restaurant, and anyone suggesting the winner will get $25,000.
In the video, Lee told Prator, "You deserve it more than the word *deserve* means."
The Puddery's rise from slow sales to internet fame is an excellent example of the Keith Lee Effect, which says that one great review can make a huge difference.
