by BEaCOE
| October, 6, 2024
One of our Sunday routines is driving to Los Gatos for a treat and a cup of coffee from Manresa Bread. Located on Santa Cruz Avenue, Manresa Bread is always bustling with activity; clearly, it’s no secret that Manresa Bread produces some fantastic breads and pastries. The outdoor patio and nearby park benches are crowded with people indulging in something delicious from this neighborhood shop.
Manresa Bread, was founded by James Beard finalist Avery Ruzicka and conceived in the kitchen of the 3-Michelin-starred Manresa Restaurant, so expectations are high. The bakery does not disappoint.
We’ve tried several of the baked goods and we have our favorite: the Kouign-amann (pronounced “queen-a-mahn”), a multi-layered buttery pastry that is simultaneously crispy, flaky, salty, and sweet. We’ve sampled Kouign-amann from bakeries near and far and Manresa makes the best Kouign-amann anywhere. Which explains our Sunday morning addiction and why it’s their #1 seller.
During our last visit, we picked up several items to take home and try and here’s what we sampled:
The Cranberry Orange Buckwheat Gluten Free Scone – I am not a huge fan of scones. Usually, I find them dry and without much flavor, but this scone was my favorite sweet item. The zesty orange glaze and the tangy cranberries won me over. And it was moist. This is a win especially for anyone who’s gluten intolerant.
The Multi-grain Bread Loaf – Surprisingly, this was my favorite bread. I’m a fan of pure sourdough and this one was mixed with rye, and I loved the tang of the sourdough with the deep taste of rye. The loaf is a traditional sandwich shape,and we made some grilled pastrami and swiss cheese sandwiches. This bread held up to big flavors.
Gingerbread Loaf – This rich, dark bread is deep and spicy, the ginger really stands out. This cakey loaf is good warm with a slather of butter and a cup of coffee or tea.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread – This banana bread is a great plant-based sweet treat. It’s super moist and chocolatey.
Cheddar Cheese Biscuits – We made delicious bacon and egg breakfast sammies with these cheesy, fluffy biscuits. These biscuits would be great with a bowl of clam chowder too. But they’re also good plain with just a little butter and honey. Very versatile.
Sticky Buns – These buns are made with a panettone starter and have a sticky caramel glaze. The subtle flavor of the panettone shines through. Excellent with a cup of coffee.
Sourdough Breads – About 90% of the bread I eat is sourdough and Manresa handles the classics perfectly. We sampled their Levain (Country Style Sourdough), Whole Wheat House Milled Sourdough, and Olive Ciabatta. Some we warmed up and served with just butter and some we toasted. The crispy, crunchy crust with a moist chewy crumb is everything great sourdough delivers.
During the holiday season, Manresa Bread bakes up some new festive treats, including Pumpkin Tart, Pecan Pie, and Caramel Apple Gateau which are delicious additions to the Thanksgiving table.
Manresa Bread has now grown to five locations: Los Gatos, Campbell, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and more recently, Santa Cruz.
Manresa Bread has amazing baked goods for the Thanksgiving holiday. Treat your friends and family to these holiday specials: Pumpkin Tart, Caramel Apple Gateau, Brioche Buns, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Chocolate Babka, XL Breton-Style Kouign Amann, and Chocolate Cherry Bread. These holiday goodies are available for pick-up starting Tuesday, November 26th.
Go to manresabread.com to pre-order your holiday items. .