A few months ago Femme de Joie was searching the shelves at Winco for a decent loaf of whole-wheat sandwich bread without high-fructose corn syrup, when she chanced upon Dave’s Killer Blues Bread. Attracted by the catchy graphics and healthy ingredients, she bought a loaf on impulse. After Amico del Signore had a taste, he went back to Winco for more. A clerk told him that it had been sent to the Redding store by accident but that they were getting customer requests for more. Apparently customer demand paid off, because three kinds of Dave’s Bread is now available regularly. Good Seed, 21 Grain, and Killer Blues are all hearty, substantial loaves with nutty taste and firm texture. We love them.
For those who enjoy an improbable success story, check out Dave’s methhead-to-baker life at http://www.daveskillerbread.com/ or follow him on Facebook.
For those who like a sweeter bread product, M. de Joie recommends Trader Joe’s Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls.
These come in one of those refrigerated cans you whack against the kitchen counter. We like them because the dough is crunchy on the outside, tender inside, and much less sweet than doughnut-shop cinnamon rolls – you add the icing to taste. They make a great treat on a weekend morning. $3.99 for a 17.5-ounce can (contains 5 rolls).
**************
M. de Joie is sorry to see Pio Loco close, especially after the recent huge turnaround in the quality of food and service. She fervently hopes someone will snap up that beautiful space and open up another restaurant.
The closing leaves a liquor license for sale, reportedly at $50,000.
In happier news, The Village Delicatessen has opened in downtown Redding at 1300 Market Street, across from the Old City Hall Arts Center. They are open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Menu is available on their Facebook page.
Femme de Joie’s first culinary masterpiece was at age 4, when she made the perfect fried bologna sandwich on white bread. Since then she has dined on horse Bourguignon in France, stir-fried eel in London, and mystery meat in her college cafeteria, but firmly draws the line at eating rattlesnake, peppermint and Hamburger Helper. She lives in Shasta County at her country estate, Butterscotch Acres West. She is nearly always hungry. Visit MenuPlease for more.
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment.