Sunday, November 6, 2011

Arizmendi Bakery


Arizmendi is hands down the best bakery in San Francisco. As a 12-year old worker-owned cooperative, the name Arizmendi was inspired by the teachings of JosàMaria Arizmendiarrieta, a native to the Basque Country of Spain who firmly believed that worker ownership and engagement in the workplace should be at the core of a just and democratic society. The adoption of this principle truly embodies what I love about San Francisco; it is a city made up of ideas that I wish were more prevalent across our country.

The atmosphere is extremely inviting. The counter spaces is full of what they call “loaves of love,” thick wreaths of sweet bread folded into the shape of a huge hanging peace sign. To the side of the bread, muffin, scone, and cookie baskets are options for cheese and drinks, which alternate with the season. Families crowd around the center of the shop, patiently waiting for an opportunity to get a prized window seat which allows not only the opportunity to people watch but also dog watch. There are always animals out front and for those of us who like to bike, we receive a biker discount. Of course, this requires some proof like the wearing of a helmet inside which can feel a bit nerdy but in all honesty this is a great strategy to not only push for an environmentally friendly mode of transportation but also for safer riding practices. Every time we have a family outing, my entire family suits up in bike gear and rides the 10 min route through picturesque Golden Gate Park to our favorite destination for morning pastries, artisan breads, and gourmet pizza.

Every morning but Monday (the day they are closed :( ) workers arrive at 4:30 am to pour their souls into knotting the brioche and rolling out the cheese for savory scones. The sourdough scent from warm baguettes mixed with the sweet smell of candied foccacia is truly so enjoyable that I salivate at the simple sensory nostalgia. The aroma alone is a dead give away of how much baking magic goes on behind the counter. To add to the excitement, the store layout allows customers to view deep into the kitchen and see just how fresh every item is and how dedicated the bakers are to making their bet product possible.

My mom recently sent me an Arizmendi cookie in the mail—dark chocolate, mint vegan cookie—but it unfortunately lost a bit of its magic lying in that stuffy package. Understandably, nothing compares to a fresh, hot cookie and in my opinion, nothing seems to compare to Arizmendi. I must admit that hungry ghost in Northampton is a contender since it is essentially an east coast Arizmendi: it is cozy, quaint, and full of culinary creativity!

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