Destination Seattle, WA: Grand Central Bakery

 

All photos by Madeline L.

 Popular by locals with international recognition, the Grand Central Bakery has won the hearts of its customers since 1972. Piper Davis, the daughter of Grand Central’s founder and now the company’s cuisine manager, lives up to her name with award winning artisan baking. Having three locations in Seattle and seven in Portland Oregon, it is no wonder the name Grand Central rings throughout the northwest coastline.

 

One of the many things we'd like to recognize about Grand Central, is the support they give to local farmers, agriculture, and businesses.

An attribute like this won them the Local Hero award in 2013.

 

If you ever want to know were most of their natural ingredients come from, you can find them listed here on the their website.

 

 

This month, our culinary destination takes you to the Emerald City. Seattle is one of the most diverse and culturally enriched cities in the United States; making it perfect for food enthusiasts alike. The original Grand Central Bakery of Seattle is located in Pioneer Square, the oldest neighborhood in the city; where shopping for arts and crafts is a daily event. Down the cobblestone streets you will find shops of every kind, ready to make your acquaintance.

Inside this historic Grand Central Arcade, a cozy brick fireplace is nestled next to a lovely bakery. On a typical day when the arcade opens its doors, the crowds come in at full speed and then leave with the smell of fresh bread as they make their way to and from the shopping center below. Come rain or shine, you can still enjoy yourself on the covered patio with your espresso and almond croissant.

We arranged a time to come here after the lunch rush. This way we could have a more intimate experience with the bakery and its staff.

 

This unique bakery was designed to harmonize with the established architecture, which gives it an inviting and warm environment for its customers.  

If the atmosphere of the bakery doesn't appease you, the luring display of baked goods will do the trick. Grand Central produces daily fresh-baked goods such as cookies, muffins, croissants, pastries and the ever popular artisan breads. Ahh, but the baking doesn't stop there. Grand Central also creates a delicious line of cakes, pies, and seasonal baked goods.

 

In addition to baked goods, Grand Central offers up a great menu full of gourmet hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads, and breakfasts.
For a look at the Seattle location menu click here

This classic sandwich was suggested to us by the staff at the bakery. It is obvious why because this sandwich immediately captured our attention with two slices of soft homemade wheat bread, tender smoked bacon, layers of juicy turkey; piled together with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise. Who could ask for more?

The soup of the day was the Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup that seemed to serve two purposes: complimenting the delicious sandwich, and warming us up after a walk in the park. We recommend a bowl of this savory soup for those that find themselves walking around Pioneer Square, uncertain of the weather, but certain to find that perfect pick-me-up.    

 

One of our favorite cookies is the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. At Grand Central, you could say these cookies speak to the "Cookies and Milk" lover in you. With each bite, you can taste the buttery sweet combination of this semi-chewy chocolate chip cookie. In fact, we had to justify this cookie with a glass of milk to give our visit here the perfect ending. 

 

If you don't make it to Seattle or Portland that often, or just crave those comfort classics that Grand Central offers, try them for yourself at home. Turn your kitchen into the famous bakery, as you take on the favorites of Grand Central. These recipes are easy to follow, complete with photos, and offer additional baking tips and ideas for the baker in everyone. Written by Piper Davis and Ellen Jackson, The Grand Central Baking Book offers just what you need to complete your kitchen library.

 

Available for purchase at Grand Central Bakeries and online.

 

 

Visit Grand Central Bakery's Website:

 

http://grandcentralbakery.com/

Destination: Salt Lake City, UT - The Sweet Tooth Fairy Gourmet Bake Shop

All photos taken by Madeline L.

Our story begins in the enchanting world of The Sweet Tooth Fairy Gourmet Bake Shop. Our heroin in this story is a girl named Megan Faulkner Brown. Her enticing creations have not only won the hearts of her adoring fans, but have also won the hearts of many baking connoisseurs alike. Media coverage from the QVC and the Rachel Ray Show has brought worldwide acclaim to the Sweet Tooth Fairy name itself; not to mention this self-taught baker brought home the winning title of the Rock of Ages episode on Food Network's Cupcake Wars (2012).  

The Foothill bake shop located in Salt Lake City, is currently one of nine shops throughout the state of Utah (with another shop located in Arizona). The original shop in Provo, UT was opened in 2009.

  The nostalgic atmosphere of these bake shops invite you to once again indulge in your childhood fantasies as you carefully pick that delicious treat that's made especially for you.

Among those treats, are the Sweet Tooth Fairy's famous cupcakes.

Our first visit to this bakery on Foothill, was in 2012; right after the Rock of Ages episode on Cupcake Wars aired. We were able to taste for ourselves how deliciously famous these award winning cupcakes were.

You can also find these flavors when they make their comeback during the special months throughout the year. 

For the Monthly Specials Click Here

*For those with gluten allergies or intolerance, they also offer various gluten free baked goods (including cupcakes) throughout the year.

On our second visit, we enjoyed some of the Sweet Tooth Fairy classics. 

Since then, our many visits to the different shops have consisted of us trying the newest treat. Whether it is a famous cupcake, a giant cookie or bar, or one of the many  delicate cake bites; each one has lived up to it's name of everything Sweet Tooth Fairy.


Our list of favorite treats (so far):

Cupcakes- Creme Brulee, Red Velvet, Strawberry Short Cake, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, and Dulce De Leche.

Cookies and Bars- Sugar, Chocolate Chip, and the Cranberry Bliss Bar.

Cake Bites- Lemon, Red Velvet, Peanut Butter, and Salted Caramel.

For the Everyday Menu click here

 

To find out more about The Sweet Tooth Fairy Gourmet Bake Shops, visit their website:

www.thesweettoothfairy.com

Here I am; a New addition to this Blog for the Culinary Adventures Section

Photo by Madeline L. 2001

What a privilege to be writing to all you readers of this blog! I am Josephine Grey, but everyone in my American family calls me Jo. I currently live in England, but have family in the US whom I visit quite frequently during the cold winter months. While I don't prefer to write much of anything, I do fancy a bit of blogging when it is about food or other creative things. Blogging and other minor computer tasks are my limit to computer skills, so no fireworks from this lady I'm afraid. I am too old to learn new tricks; I leave that to me dogs. This brings about the proposal I was given by Saltbox House to take over the Culinary Adventure section of this blog. Some of our authors have been out and about tasting and touring in their travels and want to share about these places, but find time is not on their side. So, that is where I come in; to write what and where as I research and get the facts from them. 

This concludes my introduction. Thanks to all for having me and God bless!