Bellevue Book Clubs and Cafe Specials

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Kendra

Why not kick Book Club up a notch and combine it with Happy Hour! We even have something for the kids! The University Book Store Bellevue and The Essential Baking Company Bellevue Cafe are offering ongoing Book Clubs and Cafe Specials.

Click here for a full list of monthly Book Clubs and Cafe Specials.

Click here for the most up to date events on the University Books Event Page.

The University Book Store is located at 990 102nd Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004 425.462.4500. The Essential Baking Company Cafe is just inside. With convienent parking, delicious food, treats, and books galore; you won’t want to leave.

The Essential Baking Sospeso (Suspended Coffee) Project

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Kendra

Our Essential Baking Company Wallingford Cafe Manager, Ashley Mengoni
has a big heart and a big idea! She’s come up with a way to provide warmth to
those in need. It’s called The Essential Baking Sospeso (Suspended Coffee) Project, and the concept is simple. Buy two coffees and take one. Simply request to purchase an extra cup of coffee with your order and recieve a wooden token to place in the
jar on the cafe counter. A person in need will then be able to redeem your
token for a free cup of coffee at a later time.

The Essential Baking Sospeso (Suspended Coffee) Project – buy two coffees take one.

The idea came when Ashley learned about caffè sospeso (translated from Italian: suspended coffee), the 100 year old tradition in Naples, Italy where someone would order a sospeso (suspended), paying the price of two coffees but receiving and drinking only one. A person in need would later inquire whether there was a sospeso available and would then be served a free cup of hot coffee. This tradition is being embraced in Europe today during tough economic times, as reported by NPR in April 2013.

Ashley Mengoni, The Essential Baking Company Wallingford Cafe Manager. Image Courtesy: Rex – Homeless In Seattle

Ashley brought the idea to her team at The Essential Baking Company and discussed it with Rex of Homeless In Seattle, who posted the following on the Homeless In Seattle Facebook Page, ”Three weeks ago Ashley Mengoni, the manager of The Essential Baking Company in Wallingford, came to the (Homeless In Seattle) office to chat about a beautiful idea she was having, one that provided for those in need, she would loveLOVE to offer a FREE cup of coffee at the Bakery for those that were living on the street, wowWOW!
Her thought is that customers could buy a cup of coffee for someone by purchasing a wooden token that would then get dropped into a jar on the counter; easy peazy!
Imagine all the good GOOD feelings that will come from this, the conversations AND connections!
Ashley you are really remarkable, THANK YOU for acting on your compassion, for finding a beautiful way to help connect community.
Wallingford neighborhood | Rex”

Come visit us at The Essential Baking Company Wallingford Cafe and help us spread the word about The Wallingford Project.

Now Baking In Portland!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Kendra

We are trilled to announce you can now find our Essential Baking Company bread in Oregon! In addition to our Seattle Bakery, we are now baking fresh bread daily in Portland. Staying true to our traditions, we use only the finest quality organic and GMO-free ingredients.

Our following products are available in Oregon at local markets such as Market of Choice, Food Front Co-op (Thurman), Delphina’s Bakery Café and select Grocery Outlets .

Columbia
Fremont Sour White
Focaccia
Rosemary Diamante
Raisin Pecan
Pain du George
Columbia Sliced
Multi-Grain Sliced
Fremont Sourdough Sliced
Raisin Pecan Sliced
Rosemary Sliced Demi
Pain du George Sliced

Our following Gluten Free (dairy, soy, and nut free) products are available in Oregon at Fred Meyer, Market of Choice, Food Front Co-op (Thurman), and Delphina’s Bakery Café :

Super Seeded Multi-Grain Bread
Seeded Cinnamon-Raisin Bread
Sunny Seeded White Bread
Super Seeded Multi-Grain Rolls (6 pk)
Original Hot Dog Buns (4 pk)
Original Hamburger Buns (4 pk)

Send us a picture on Facebook or Twitter if you spot us in your local store!

Introducing Gluten Free Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Kendra

image: Kendra You asked and we listened. Introducing Gluten-Free Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns!

Let your culinary creativity flow and use them with sausages, barbequed portabella mushrooms or your favorite pulled pork recipe. The possibilities are endless!

Available in Washington at The Essential Baking Company Cafes, PCC, Metropolitan Markets, Town and Country, and selective Red Apples and Thriftways.

Available in Oregon at Market of Choice, Delphina’s Bakery Café, and Food Front Co-Op (Thurman).

“Check in” at The Essential Baking Company’s Bellevue Cafe

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Kendra

Are you a Social Media Junkie? Well we have just the promotion for you. Check in on Twitter, Facebook or Yelp when you visit The Essential Baking Company Bellevue Cafe and recieve a $1 off your order.

We’re Doing Sunday Brunch and Mimosas in Bellevue!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Kendra

We have the perfect Sunday morning for you! Sip a mimosa or premium espresso while savoring Organic Cinnamon and Cardamon-spiced French Toast with organic maple syrup, a variety of omeletes served with toast and arugula salad, sweet or savory crepes or a hearty and satisfying egg sandwich. Bring your family, meet up with friends, or just relish time to yourself while enjoying a good book.

We are proud to announce that this weekend marks the start of Sunday Brunch from 8am – 2pm at

The Essential Baking Company’s Bellevue Cafe, located right inside University Bookstore Bellevue.

Remember, Mother’s Day is Sunday May 12th. Join us for Sunday Brunch!

Happy Hour: For Adults and Kids At The Essential Baking Company’s Bellevue Cafe

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Kendra

Introducing Happy Hour, every Monday – Friday from 4pm-6pm at The Essential Baking Company’s Bellevue Cafe. Located inside the University Bookstore, this location boasts free parking and the convienece and comfort of having The Essential Baking Company and the University Bookstore in one place. You can buy books, shop for gifts, enjoy a lunch, snack, a treat, coffee, or even a glass of wine with friends in the cafe or by the fireplace in the bookstore. It’s the perfect place to catch up with spend time with your family, catch up with a friend or even have a business meeting. Be sure to ask about the monthly book club specials.

We even offer a Happy Hour especiall for the kids. Join us every Monday – Friday from 2pm – 4pm for a special treat. Enjoy a treat with your Sweet. Spend some time reading books with eachother or doing homework without the usual distractions of home.

Rosemary Bake-At-Home With Roasted Red Pepper Aioli

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Kendra

Looking for something delicious to accompany your roasted chicken or steak for dinner? Trying to decide on an appetizer to serve or bring to a party? We have a quick and easy idea for you.

Rosemary Bake-At-Home With Roasted Red Pepper Aioli

Ingredients:

1 Essential Baking Rosemary Bake-At-Home Loaf
4 garlic cloves
1 cup roasted red peppers – drained from a jar or fresh roasted
2/3 cup mayonaise
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan Cheese to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Chop garlic, roasted red peppers, and mayonaise in your blender or food processor. While your blender or food processer is running, add in the extra virgin olive oil to emmulsify.
Add salt and pepper to taste. If not using immediately, transfer your aioli to a container and store it in the refrigerator.
Otherwise Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees.
Cut your Essential Baking Company Bake-At-Home Rosemary loaf in half lengthwise.
Spread each side with the aioli and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Place on a sheet pan and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Remove from oven and top with arugula or basil.

Fresh Baked Bread On Your BBQ?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Kendra

Have you ever tried baking bread on your barbeque grill? We have and we’re here to tell you how. The result is a tasty crisp outer crust and the inside is soft and delicious. You’re sure to impress your next dinner guests with this simple technique.

You may already be framiliar with our Artisan Organic Rosemary Bake-At-Home Bread, currently available at Northwest Costco locations. It stays fresh in your pantry for weeks without having to freeze it, thanks to it’s innovative packaging. You just pop it in your oven and have freshed baked bread in minutes. We are stepping it up with a way to turn your ordinary grill into an extraordinary bread oven.

How to bake your Essential Baking Company Organic Rosemary Bake-At-Home Bread on your grill.

Open package and place loaf on a piece of foil large enough to wrap around the whole loaf.
Brush the top of the loaf with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle kosher sea salt on top.
Wrap foil around the whole loaf leaving the top slightly open as a vent.
Place wrapped loaf on the top shelf of your BBQ and bake for 8-12 minutes.
Carefully remove from your grill with a pot holder. Slice loaf upside down on a cutting board, serve and enjoy!

With Rosemary Bake-At-Home bread, you are the baker. Enjoy fresh baked bread in minutes from your oven, or your grill – from The Essential Baking Company.

Happy Hour Begins & Meet The Author at Essential’s Bellevue Cafe

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Kendra

Come meet author and photographer Karyn King at 5pm during our first Happy Hour at The Essential Baking Company’s Bellevue Café* – located inside The University Bookstore in Bellevue.

University Bookstore welcomes Karyn King for a book signing and reading from her book San Juan Island and Beyond—A Photographer’s Journey, a pictorial tour of the most stunning seascapes and marine wildlife in western Washington.

Introducing our Happy Hour Menu at The Essential Baking Company Cafe Bellevue, offered weekdays from 4-6pm.