13
I saw a bakery in Portland that doesn't sell any bread
I was in Portland last month and walked by this place called The Sweet Hearth. The window was full of amazing looking cakes and pastries, so I went in. I asked for a simple sourdough loaf and the guy looked at me like I was crazy. He said they only do desserts, no bread at all. It got me thinking about how specialized some bakeries are now. I mean, I get focusing on what you're good at, but it felt weird to be in a bakery with no bread. The croissants were great, don't get me wrong, but the whole vibe was just dessert. Is this a normal thing in bigger cities now, or was this place just an odd one out? I'm used to the old school spots that do a bit of everything.
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
sarah_hart13d ago
Yeah, it's like the whole world decided to get super specific. I tried to buy a regular coffee the other day and the place only had cold brew on tap, which feels wrong before noon. @the_terry has a point about it being good for branding, but sometimes you just want a normal loaf of bread, not a fancy cake. It reminds me of those barber shops that only do fades now, no simple buzz cuts. I guess if the croissants are that good, they figure why bother with sourdough, but it still feels a bit off.
4
the_terry13d ago
It's part of a bigger trend where everything gets super niche. You see it with coffee shops that only do pour-overs or burger joints with one item on the menu. In my experience, it works for building a strong brand, but it can be frustrating when you just want the basic version of something. Your mileage may vary, but I miss places that tried to do a few things really well instead of just one.
2