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Grilled Cheese on Toasted Levain Bread with Pulled Pork.
Key Lime Tart.
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Almond Chocolate Croissant & Leek Brioche at One House Bakery in Benicia.
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I'd been hearing nothing but rave reviews about One House Bakery, and after a number of visits, I'd have to say if anything, what I heard doesn't praise One House enough. This bakery is on par with favorites in San Francisco (Arsicault, B. Patisserie & Neighbor Bakehouse), the East Bay, and Bouchon in Yountville. Except the lines here, as I've experienced them, are quite short. I don't think that'll last. Also, there's plenty of free parking nearby. We're lucky to have such a place here in Solano County.
Check out the nautical decor. I shot lots of photos of One House, but decided to leave them out so you can discover that on your own, and leave the focus here on the great pastries and brilliant lunch menu.
Above and below: the pastry counter is up first, and what you see here is a typical selection, though there's usually some new things here and there.
At left: Almond Chocolate Croissant & Leek Brioche; at right, Cardamom Date Coconut Oat Bar.
One House Bakery does the small things right. Part of the reason to come here is because of the undoubted skills of the pastry chefs, but also for the use of top-notch ingredients, high quality chocolate, locally sourced vegetables, and imported French butter. I used to be so thankful that I went to Paris once & experienced what it was like to have a perfect croissant, still hot from the oven. I'd probably never experience that again, I thought, but then I moved to the Bay Area, and found a few bakeries on such an exalted level. And now there's one here in Solano County. We are so blessed.
In all my life, I've never encountered a Cardamom Date Coconut Oat Bar, and this combination is so classic that I'm sure there are pastries or dessert items with Cardamom and Date combined. It's a stunningly great pairing, and Oat Bars are easy to make. Though the result here is so beyond anything I've had or made, so it's as if they made perfection look easy & relatively effortless.
Another time we got a Cardamom Date Bar, this time with a Pecan Brownie, rich & fudgy, and paired nicely with pecans.
Lemon Poppyseed cake and two pieces of Shortbread. Spot on.
Chocolate Raspberry Roulade to die for. Luscious, melty rich, erotic and fulfilling at once.
So they've got a nice patio, and various nooks and crannies indoors and out front. I know folks who've started bakeries and cafes, and I've considered getting in the business myself, having worked in the industry, and I've considered what do you have to do to make it work. One House is doing everything right. Profit margins for bakeries are low because it's such a demanding, time-consuming craft. But One House Bakery does more than serve incredible pastries and coffee--they have lunch offerings, & a well-curated wine and beer list as well.
Creamy Polenta with Braised Pork, and side Frisee Salad. Pretty sure I've never had a Polenta with that level of depth of flavor, unctuous pork dusted with parm, and plenty of butter and cream in the polenta.
Salad Lyonnaise, with a soft poached egg, crispy pancetta lardons, over frisee with caramelized onion, parmesan, and a couple of pieces of bread from an Epi Baguette. They mill their own flour at One House, so their breads have a tooth to them that sets them apart.
Cuban Meat Pie & Bacon Frittata. More superb offerings. One thing to add is the prices are astoundingly affordable given the caliber of the offerings.
Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks.
One House Bakery
918 1st Street, Benicia, CA
Hours: 8am-6pm (closed on most holidays)
707-361-5919
onehousebakery.com
