Why: The opening of Sadie and Josie’s Bakery lends a sense of special charm to small-town La Center. One might say, “It’s the cherry on top.”
With 1,350 square feet of space, there’s plenty of room to bake a full range of desserts to cater to the pastry lover in all of us. Items include pies, cookies, breads, rolls, buns, coffee cakes, donuts, cheesecakes, layer cakes and cupcakes — all of which come in several varieties.
Sadie and Josie’s Bakery is strictly grab-and-go.
Atmosphere: The clean, crisp black-and-white environment, with smudge-free glass fronts on the bakery cases, is reminiscent of See’s Candies.
The aromas of freshly baked bread and sugary treats waft through the air, enticing visitors to grab one of each. Bakers can be seen working.
What I tried: I tried the Extra-Sourdough Bread, made without using vinegar. I also sampled the Caramel Candy Bar Cookies and a Pumpkin Spice Pudding Ring, as well as the Glazed Cinnamon Rolls, which are slathered in a glaze of confectioners’ sugar and water.
My favorite from the items I chose was the sourdough bread. It was moist, soft and dense, a nice contrast to many dry, tough and airy sourdoughs I’ve tried. The sourdough flavor wasn’t too intense, so I could still enjoy the fresh flavor of the bread. Its crust was golden but remained soft and was easily chewed.
My least favorite was the Pumpkin Spice Pudding Ring because it was a little too moist for my liking. The flavor, with a hint of nutmeg, reminded me of spice cake.
Ribbons of gooey caramel run throughout the Caramel Candy Bar Cookies, which are cut into serving-size squares. Chocolate chips are incorporated into the oat-based cookie bar, which has a firm texture. I found the chocolate and oats dominated the flavor, and the caramel, though soft and plentiful, didn’t make a huge impression.
The cinnamon roll had a homemade quality similar to those available at WinCo’s bakery. Though I tried the glazed version, they also come with a buttercream frosting. I found them to be moist with just the right amount of cinnamon.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Other than the wide range of donuts, the pies and cheesecakes were tempting.
Cost: Breads are $2 to $8. Pies are $12 to $15. Cinnamon rolls are $6 for a pack of 4. Pudding rings are $7 to $8, and coffee cakes are $5. Donuts are $1 each or $10 for a baker’s dozen.
Other observations: One can feel the excitement of production that fills the air. This is balanced by the obvious ease with which all who work at Sadie and Josie’s complete their tasks.
Wednesday is the best day to shop the bakery because the selection is the largest. The bakery uses Country Crock margarine instead of butter in its recipes. When I inquired about this, I was told it is because they like the flavor better than butter.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Telephone: 360-263-6200.
Where: 582 N.W. Pacific Highway, La Center.
Health score: Sadie and Josie’s Bakery received a perfect score of zero when it was inspected Oct. 29. Clark County Public Health closes restaurants that score 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
