Terra Bella Bakery & Café

This weeks's Sunday morning breakfast started with a search on my iPhone's Yelp app.  The closest restaurant, that was open, was Terra Bella Bakery & Café.  I feel like I should have checked their website first, because it's head says Terra Bella Organic Coffee, Waking the World...Naturally.  If I were a coffee drinker, this would have further encouraged me to go, but sadly, I am not a coffee drinker.

Based on Yelp's advice, my wife, daughter, and I took off for the Dimond location.  The café is very clean and tidy, with a relaxed feel and friendly staff, and they do offer some gluten free baked goods.  Unfortunately, for this foodie, those are the nicest things I can say.

I ordered the Bacon Cheddar Egg Bagel.  The bagel made me feel good at least, as it was a sprouted grain flax bagel.  She sandwich had bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese.  Somehow there managed to be absolutely no flavor to this offering.  The bacon must have been some sort of low sodium variety, because there was little to no savory aspect in this breakfast sandwich.  Like I said, at least the sandwich made me feel good...even if it didn't taste that good.

My wife tried the Grizzly Scramble.  This blend of reindeer sausage and eggs, was inundated with too many onions and roasted red peppers for her to make a dent in the dish.  The only thing she did make a dent in was the side of potatoes...but only after they searched high and low for some ketchup...so she could stomach them.  

My wife did say that her Raspberry Mocha was okay, and my daughter really liked the whipped cream on top.  I guess I found another positive thing to say.


Terra Bella Bakery & Café:

Address - 601 E. Dimond Blvd #6 & 2932 C Street, Anchorage, AK

Website - terrabellacoffee.com

Phone - 907.562.2259 & 907.562.2229

Overall Recommendation:  I am not a coffee drinker, so this place is not really for me.  For the fanatical coffee drinker, Terra Bella may be nirvana.  But for me it's just an average café with average food.

Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop - So good, it brings tears of joy to your eyes

I am literally licking my lips as I write this.  The rich, bright, flavors of my whole wheat focaccia still linger on my lips and palate.  I can't believe I waited this long to make it to the Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop.  To date, it is the highlight of my culinary year.

The focaccia is made with whole wheat flower and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt.  It is this already delicious base, upon which the delectable ingredients wait...to pounce on my taste buds.  My selection had pesto, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheese.  This offering is full of powerful flavors, yet somehow delicate.  The bread itself is incredibly fresh, moist, and fluffy.  The pesto, when combined with the tomato, sings.  The mushrooms give the meal an almost meaty quality.  I am in love.

So good was the focaccia, that I did not hesitate to dive into the Kalamata olive, artichoke heart, and feta croissant.  It was so light and flaky on the outside, and yet, hidden within are the slightly melted and married flavors of the olives, chokes, and feta.  Amazing!  I feel like I am in the mediterranean...the only thing I am missing is a bottle of chianti.

I also picked up a whole wheat baguette to go with my dinner.  If it is just 1/10th as good as the focaccia and croissant, I will be completely satisfied.  Before today, I had never even heard of a whole wheat baguette.

The only thing that will keep me from going back to Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop is the fact that I want to try to keep my waistline in check.  This bakery is amazing!

Fire Island Rustic Bakery:

Address - 1343 G Street, Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone - 907.569.0001

Email - fireislandbread@gmail.com

Website - www.fireislandbread.com

Reservations - NA

Overall Recommendation - This is absolutely the best bakery in Anchorage.  Fresh, rich, and wholesome. What are you doing still reading this?  Go to Fire Island Rustic Bakery...now!