Bay Area bread favorites

Regional Dining Discussions SF Bay Area, NorCal, Tahoe
101

I was using the Too Good to Go app at Acme in Berkeley but had to slow down and haul, because gained a little weight. I was doing it like every 6 weeks or so and freezing most of it. An exceptional deal at $5.99 and excellent bread…but maybe too much of a good thing. Besides the deal, also was introduced to breads I normally wouldn’t pick, like a dark rye bard and seed bread.

The one place I’ve been eying is Firebrand bakery but they closed the Oakland store and while Alameda isn’t far, it’s out of the way.

102

The Alameda Firebrand is by Spirits Alley, so you can combine a visit there with a trip to Almanac Brewing, St. George’s Distillery, etc.

103

I live three blocks from the Acme bakery. They saved the day early in the lockdown–when supermarket shelves were bare of flour and yeast, Acme sold their own flour (white and whole wheat) and little 1 ounce tubs of yeast. The yeast was good for several batches of bread or rolls. They also have addictive shortbread chocolate chip cookies.

104

I have had their bread a few times. It’s good, but not at the level of Acme, Tartine or Rize Up. B Patisserie has better baguettes. But it’s a high bar in this area for good bread.

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105

Thanks for the quick take. The wood oven had me intrigued but that’s only part of the whole deal. If I’m by there might check it out. Otherwise, agree the bread bar is set high in the Bay Area, and we’re lucky.

Next on the list, anyone try Manresa Bread? That’s really out of my way but Manresa restaurant was one of my favorites. (Side note: pretty sure David Kinch named it after the beach.) I’m curious but have to be low key with carbs, so quick reviews are good, and knowing there is a bar. If I’m having carbs, I want them tasty.

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106

Roughly, my personal ratings are:

Tartine > Midwife, As Kneaded > the fancier Acmes > Firebrand > the regular Acmes that’s everywhere.

Firebrand is decent, but they are just a bit short compared to the better bread in the Bay.

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107

I really wanted to like Manresa Bread when they started showing up in my local farmers market a few years ago. I tried a number of items, including various bread. But every time I tried it, I was like, WTF. They are pricey, but I just don’t get their bread, at all.

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108

Manresa Bread is better for some of their pastries but just OK for the bread - not that it is bad but doesn’t come to the same high levels as some other places in the Bay area
Kinch mentioned that the name of the restaurant came from the beach but also the city in Spain (as a nod to progressive cooking in Spain)