Sweet Stroll: European Bakery and Cafe Review

Part of the World: 3602 W. Bell Road, Suite 3, Glendale, AZ (NW corner 35th Ave and Bell)

Sight: Traditional Jelly-filled sugar cookies and some other cookies in one case, while a wide assortment of beautiful pastries and mousses were in another case. Towards the back were bakery-fresh white and wheat breads.

Aroma: Fresh-baked bread filled the air

Taste: The Chocolate Mousse (in an edible cup – see photo above) was light, chocolate-y, creamy, and refreshing. The Tiramisu (the owner/baker got the recipe from his Italian friend in Venice, Italy) was very light and also refreshing. I didn’t at first notice any of the espresso flavor while I was sampling this tall pastry (see photo above), but a few seconds later I sure did and it was the perfect little pick-me up, subtle and light. Delightful.

Kid-Friendly: Eh. Order to-go and take your stuff home for your kids. You can bring the kids with you to peruse the pastry case, of course.

Bakery Bonus: All items are hand made on premises, and they are really beautiful.

 Costs: Starting at about $2-$3 for gorgeous, truly European pastries. Talk about a gem. 

Sweet Stroll: Beyond Bread Review Part 1

1.    Name of Bakery: Beyond Bread

2.    Part of the World: Three Locations in Tucson, Arizona

3.    Sight: Over 30 varieties of breads displayed on rustic-looking wood shelves ready for purchase.  Countless pastries lit up like a holiday in the chilled glass cases.

4.    Aroma: This place is more busy atmosphere than aroma, and yet not one area is less than the other. Beyond Bread has a perfect balance of eat-in meals (sandwiches and the like) and breads/pastries for eat-in or to go. 

5.    Taste: The SEMOLINA bread (my picture of it above) has a crusty exterior and soft, chewy interior. It’s an old-world kind of bread that makes you feel as though you’re sitting at a café on the Aegean Sea. It’s a perfect bread to accompany your main meal, appetizer, or just enjoy with a slab of butter.

6.    Kid-Friendly: This is a casual place for people of all ages to enjoy. Free bread samples upon entering, kid menu, and of course, sweets.
 

Prices ranged from about $3.00 - almost $5.00 for bakery items.

7.    Bakery Bonus: Are you kidding me? I'm still floored by there being over 30 kinds of breads from which to choose. I’ll be reviewing three pastries from Beyond Bread in a Part 2 review. Stay tuned!

www.beyondbread.com