Dear Huckleberry,

I am in love with your bakery and café in Santa Monica. It’s the ideal neighborhood hangout with a casual, laid back atmosphere. My never-ending search for great baked goods has led me here, and thank goodness it did.

I didn’t know this was an order at the counter, grab-the-next-available-table kind of place. When I arrived, all of the tables were full, inside and out, and there was a line out the back door. I have to admit, I started to panic. Will I get a table? With all of these people, will there be any pastry left for me? BREATHE! Don’t worry, there’s a reason for the line. I quickly realized, the reason you don’t hold us up in a foyer waiting for a table is that you want us to walk amongst the pastry, interact with the staff, and with each other! That’s part of the charm of this place.

 

 

Illuminated by a skylight, the giant blackboards list the offerings for the day, both sweet and savory. The peek-a-boo open kitchen allowed me to see the staff playfully preparing giant trays of baked treats just for us! Part of me wanted to jump in and help. Next up, the cold deli case, filled with beautifully made sandwiches of prosciutto, gruyere, plugra butter and fleur de sel. The various salads and side dishes of quinoa, roasted cauliflower and pickled chiles are all tempting, but I’m on a mission.

 

The line moves forward, inching me closer to the star attractions – and there they are.

 

A large glass partition allows me to spy the incredible bakery creations. Various platters and pedestals filled with sugar perfection. So many choices, I’m in heaven: kouign amann, lemon pistachio cake, sour plum turnovers, carrot tea cake, chocolate banana tarts, various cookies, croissants, and mini chocolate cupcakes, just to name a few. In the background a variety of homemade breads are lined up and displayed for consumption. Here are a few things from the menu I enjoyed:

Creekstone Farms Brisket Hash ($12) – with roasted potatoes, arugula, and sunny side up eggs.

This dish is one of my favorites. More like a stew than a hash, LOVE! Juicy slow-cooked brisket. This reminded me of the midwest home cooking I grew up enjoying.

Green Eggs and Ham ($12) – La Quercia Prosciutto , pesto, and arugula on a house made English Muffin: Light, and flavorful. The pesto sauce was bright, and fresh. A simple dish, but the quality of ingredients is obvious to all.

Strawberry Crostata ($7.5)

Lemon Pistachio Cake ($5)

Cinnamon Roll ($3.75)

Whole Wheat Apple Fruit Slice ($5.5)

All of the baked goods were amazing! My favorite was the Lemon Pistachio Cake. A good crust, moist and lemon soaked in the center, and topped with toasted pistachios. YUM.

To the culinary power couple, owners Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb, THANK YOU for creating great-tasting, quality food worth waiting in line for! Yes, it was crowded, but that’s just a good indication that something great is going on inside. Yes, it was busy, but I never felt neglected by your friendly staff, and YES, if you can’t tell, Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe is my new culinary crush!

I’m so envious of what you’ve created here. A big thank you to the entire Huckleberry Team!

With love and appreciation,

Rebecca

 

Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe

1014 Wilshire Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310-451-2311

http://www.huckleberrycafe.com/

 

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 8:00pm

Saturday & Sunday: 8:00am – 5:00pm

 

Price: $$

*Keep your hearts full and your taste buds happy, people!*