The Scoop: Manresa Bread has become famous throughout the Bay Area for its delicious baked goods. The professional bakers use fresh and healthy ingredients to make artisanal breads, pastries, and other treats that have people coming back for more. Couples often stop by Manresa Bread to get something they can share on a date. During COVID-19, Manresa Bread has upped its takeout and delivery game, and it has nationwide shipping available. Now couples can order online to get the neighborhood bakery’s most popular breads, granola, and baking mixes sent to their doorstep.
Located in Silicon Valley, Manresa Bread is an offshoot from Chef David Kinch’s Manresa restaurant, which has earned three Michelin stars. The restaurant’s breads became popular enough to warrant the opening of a neighborhood bakery in Los Gatos.
The Manresa Bread baking team uses local and artisanal ingredients to make breads and pastries fresh every day.
Head Baker Avery Ruzicka worked her way up from a food runner at Manresa to a founding partner of its bakery. Her passion and expertise in the kitchen has gained recognition at the highest levels of the food industry. In 2020, Avery was a James Beard finalist.
Manresa Bread imports its own wheat berries and ancient grains, mills its flours daily, and hand shapes all of its naturally leavened breads. The bakers use whole grain flour, which adds nutritional value and a savory flavor to the baked goods.
Manresa Bread is a friendly neighborhood bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Manresa Bread currently has three locations, each with its own unique flavor. The Los Gatos bakery is its flagship location and sees a lot of regulars who are on a first-name basis with the staff. The Los Altos location attracts a diverse crowd of high schoolers and retirees.
Situated in a walkable downtown area, the Campbell location serves sandwiches, beer, and wine as well as baked goods, so it has become a popular date spot for young adults. Its menu is also on DoorDash for those who prefer to stay in and treat themselves.
The bakeries are open every day from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Delivery and takeout options are available online. Manresa Bread pastries are also sold at NorCal Verve Coffee locations.
Even if you don’t live in California, you can still get a taste of Manresa Bread’s classic artisanal creations. The website has a national shipping option that delivers sourdough bread, chocolate babka, and other delicious treats throughout the continental U.S.
Technical Baking Expertise Yields Delicious Results
The core philosophy at Manresa Bread is to combine high-quality ingredients with old-fashioned baking techniques to create baked goods that are both wholesome and delicious.
The bakers carefully source every ingredient from local growers and mill their own flour in the in-house commissary. Everything is made fresh daily. That means the kitchen staff mills flour from the wheat berries, mixes it into a dough, and bakes bread all in a single day.
Artisanal breads can be a lovely snack or appetizer on a date.
Many visitors are impressed by Manresa Bread’s baking expertise and dedication to flavor. The bakery has four stars on Yelp, and its oven-to-doorstep operation has been positively featured by The New York Times.
“Avery is the best baker in the bay area,” a foodie named Doug C. wrote in a Yelp review. “There is nobody in the bay area who can replicate the air pockets of the crumb or inside of the loaf combined with the hard crust.”
“A line is formed before they even open,” said a San Jose resident named Nancy. “That should tell you how great their pastries are! Their monkey bread is my personal favorite, and it is definitely a must-try!”
The Monkeybread is a popular seller at the bakery. This indulgent snack uses leftover croissant scraps baked with a rich topping of cinnamon sugar and molasses. The result is sweet, sticky, chewy goodness.
Additionally, Manresa Bread sells baking mixes for brownies, waffles, and cookies. That way, couples can enjoy a fun DIY experience in the kitchen and bring the indulgent tastes of the bakery to their home.
The Perfect Menu for a Picnic or Lunch Date
Manresa Bread has perfected the art of flour milling and breadmaking to ensure its baked goods are unmatched in terms of nutrition and flavor. The bakery’s shelves are packed with homemade breads and pastries that are a step up from what you’d find at a typical grocery store. Plus, the cookies and croissants are made using whole wheat flour, so even these indulgent treats are a little healthier than the average desserts.
Couples can savor the warm aromas of fresh baked goods at Manresa Bread and pick up something that’ll perfectly complement an at-home dinner date or a picnic lunch.
A lot of work goes into making the bakery’s sweet and savory items.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Manresa Bread has adapted to the changing environment by implementing rigorous health guidelines for staff and customers. All locations now offer contactless online ordering and pickup. Customers are not permitted to come indoors; instead they use a window to retrieve their baked goods. Contactless delivery orders are also available through DoorDash and nationwide shipping.
The Campbell location has a full lunch menu that includes sandwiches and tartines as well as beers on tap and wines sold by the glass and by the bottle. The Manresa Bread team is currently working on setting up an outdoor dining option at the Campbell bakery.
In the coming summer months, visitors at the Campbell location will be able to sit outside and enjoy the quaint downtown atmosphere while munching on pastries and sipping wine. It’ll be the perfect spot for couples to enjoy the California sun on an outdoor lunch date.
Of course, couples don’t have to live in Silicon Valley to enjoy Manresa Bread’s fresh baked products. They can complete an online order for breads, brownie mixes, and other treats. Manresa Bread ships throughout the continental United States and offers holiday gift bundles for large orders over $150.
Whether you’re preparing a family feast or an intimate dinner date, Manresa Bread’s artisan goods can bring extra flavor to the table.
Manresa Bread: A Neighborhood Bakery on the Rise
Over the years, couples have flocked to Manresa Bread to treat themselves to a snack or dessert while on a date. The bakery’s friendly atmosphere makes all visitors feel welcome to try new things and indulge their sweet tooth.
From the delivery drivers to the head bakers, the Manresa Bread staff come together to tantalize people’s taste buds with high-quality baked goods. The neighborhood bakery team is kept busy making artisanal breads and pastries at three locations seven days a week.
Looking ahead, Manresa Bread is prepared to move forward from the pandemic with a new purpose and drive. The team has plans to expand its offerings in the coming year and deliver baked goods to more people in the Bay Area and beyond.
