#bakery cafe

[fidjiefidjie]

🌂 Coffee Time ! ☕️ 🍪

Gif de Maori Sakai

[coto-toco2]

Carrot & Ginger soup with a rye roll.

So yummy!

[auris-lothol]

Metamorphose

[formeryelpers]

As Kneaded Café, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577

Fresh baked goods and coffee inside the library? Yes, please. I’ve seen some cafes at libraries but As Kneaded Café seems better because they bake their own bread and pastries (not on site but a mile away). They don’t have a kitchen on site.

Choose from a case of pastries (croissants, muffins, scones, cookies, teacake, quiche). You can also order a salad or sandwich. The sandwiches are premade and sitting in the refrigerated case. Drinks include your usual espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate. They use Counter Culture coffee beans.  

The Sorbonne Salami sandwich with stoneground mustard and cornichons ($14): They baked the demi baguette, so that’s a plus. However, it was very firm and very chewy because it had been sitting in the refrigerator. The ingredients were simple and complementary, but I could have easily made that sandwich at home. The mixed green salad was too salty to eat. Wish they could make the sandwich to order.

The entrance is outside the library with different hours from the library. There’s a nice outdoor patio and also seating inside. They also sell loaves of bread, Counter Culture coffee beans, Wild & Tea, local honey, and snacks. There’s free wi-fi and easy free parking for three hours.

They just opened and are very friendly. Hope they do well.

3.5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Bored Cuban, 831 NW 42nd Ave, Miami (West Flagler), FL 33126

I like the concept – an all-day, casual Cuban bakery café. The monkey mascot smoking a cigar gives it a bit of an edge. You can order at the register or use the self-service kiosk. Or order online. There were sweet pastries (e.g., pop tarts, monkey bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies) and savory pastries (empanadas, pan de bono, croquetas). You can order pixas, sandwiches, wraps, bowls, soups, acai bowls, toast, breakfast sandwiches, coffee drinks, shakes, smoothies, juices, etc.

Spinach & cheese croqueta ($1.49): the log shaped croqueta had been rolled in crumbs, the spinach and cheese mixture was soft and mushy

Ropa vieja empanada ($3.79): a baked shell filled with shredded beef in a sweet tomato sauce, the shell was thin and didn’t have much flavor, the beef filling was tasty but I took one bite and all the filling came out

Pan de bono ($2.49): these were my favorite, chewy round golden balls with a touch of glutinous flour, a buttery and cheesy flavor

Café Cubano ($1.69): espresso with sugar – strong and small

The place was busy in the morning. It’s colorful inside (those purple walls). Merch for sale included the plush monkey mascot, tumblers, bags of coffee, and t-shirts. They have a rewards program.

3.5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[laptopcamper]

As Kneaded Café, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577, Score: 38/50

As Kneaded Café opened recently at the San Leandro Main Library. The baked goods and breads are baked about a mile from the café.

Score: 38/50

Food: 4/5 – Choose from a case of pastries (croissants, muffins, scones, cookies, teacake, quiche). You can also order a salad or sandwich. The sandwiches are premade and sitting in the refrigerated case. My sandwich was good but very simple. The side salad was way too salty.

Coffee: 4/5 – They serve Counter Culture coffee. The drip coffee was okay. Drinks include your usual espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate.

Wi-fi: 5/5 – Free, unlimited, the password was posted

Ambiance: 4/5 – Indoor and outdoor seating, homey in feel

Noise: 5/5 – Quiet

Plugs: 3/5 – I saw one outlet. The library has lots of outlets though.

Parking: 4/5 – Large parking lot, free parking for three hours

Comfort: 3/5 – Chairs were hard but the tables were large enough to spread out, some of the outdoor seating might be too sunny

Bathroom: 3/5 – Didn’t see any but I’m sure the library has some

Art: 3/5 – None

Tips: Coffee beans and breads for sale. They also sell snacks.

“Laptop Campers Unite!”

[formeryelpers]

Bella’s Bread & Butter, 7212 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles (Melrose), CA 90046

I love a good Israeli bakery. I didn’t realize that Bella’s was the sister restaurant to Bella’s in Tzfat, Israel, until after my visit. The food is Kosher and they use organic ingredients. They make their own hand-rolled croissants, organic sourdough loaves, sourdough pizza (cooked in a wood-fired oven), cakes, etc. You can also order off the menu, which includes pancakes, fancy toasts, sandwiches, salads, etc. Breakfast is served all day.

Crazy croissant chocolate babka ($18): it’s made with organic flour and no seed oils. I think it’s the moistest babka that I’ve ever had – parts were sticky. It was soft and chewy. Think a cinnamon roll only with chocolate instead of cinnamon and no icing or frosting. Delicious but on the sweeter side. I do prefer a good rugelach though and they didn’t have any. The employee said that they sometimes offer rugelach but not very often.

They even have a vegan chocolate babka.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.