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The Crumb Factory Bakery & Café brings artisan breads and handcrafted pastries to St. Pete

The Crumb Factory Bakery & Café brings artisan breads and handcrafted pastries to St. Pete

Baked rolls, bread, and a salad

In a world of processed foods and GMOs, The Crumb Factory Bakery and Café is offering St. Pete a refreshing taste of something different. At 5701 Central Ave, elegant simplicity is the name of the game.

“Food doesn’t have to be complicated to be good,” owner Pablo Mardones explained to me on a recent visit to the shop.

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His wife, and co-owner, Katie chimed in. “We believe in very simple ingredients. You can use simple, high quality ingredients and put them together into something delicious.”

I sat across from the couple at a sleek wooden table. Smiling bakers meandered through the space behind us, arms full of fresh pastries and sandwiches for their regulars.

“We wanted to make good bread,” Pablo said. “The way bread used to be made.”

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Fresh food from simple ingredients

Though The Crumb Factory has been open a little over a year, yesterday was the first time I had the chance to stop in. With the large amount of online buzz and word-of-mouth circling around the operation, I was essentially convinced that—if I didn’t visit the café soon—I would lose my credibility as a St. Pete foodie. Whether or not that fear was legitimate, or a result of my type-A paranoia, I’m certainly glad it compelled me to make the trip.

From my time of arrival, Katie and Pablo were gracious hosts. They told me stories of Pablo’s upbringing in Chile and his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant. The Crumb Factory, Katie explained, was founded on “friendship and heart,” a sentiment that is still visible through the joy and enthusiasm of the café and bakery’s current staff.

As our conversation progressed from the café’s origin to its food, the team presented me with a lavish spread of custard-topped danishes, sourdough sandwiches and croissant dough cinnamon rolls. Filled “simply” with all-natural ingredients and “love,” each item I was given was delicious.

So, the takeaway? The Crumb Factory Bakery and Café is worth the hype.

And, if you order these menu highlights, chances are you’ll agree with me.

The menu

Sourdough Country Loaf

When Pablo opened The Crumb Factory with the goal to “make good bread,” this is the loaf he started with. Handcrafted daily, this flavorful sourdough is the star of many of the bakery’s sandwiches, as well as a top-seller on its own.

According to the team, there are two secrets to its deliciousness. First, it utilizes a starter that was invented in-house. And after that? It’s baked in a Bongard oven that was shipped directly to St. Pete from France.

Cruffin

A crossover between a croissant and a muffin, this filling-stuffed pastry recently won The Crumb Factory a “Best of the Bay” Critics’ Choice Award.

Buttery, flaky and crispy in all the right places, I highly recommend trying one.

Cinnamon Roll

Tied with the aforementioned Cruffin for the best-selling pastry in the bakery, The Crumb Factory’s cinnamon roll is unlike any I’ve tasted before.

Made from scratch with croissant dough—rather than traditional pastry dough—the roll has a subtly crunchy outer layer that juxtaposes perfectly with its soft, warm interior.

Ham, Egg and Cheese on Sourdough

In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Pablo’s sourdough bread is sliced and grilled in a sandwich, such as the team’s Ham, Egg and Cheese.

Featuring gooey Vermont cheddar, a hearty amount of protein, and butter melted inside of the bread, this breakfast-inspired handheld effectively incorporates the bakery’s country-style loaf into a great meal.

The Mediterranean

Looking for a bit heavier lunch? Then the prosciutto-stuffed “Mediterranean” sub is the option for you.

Stacked with meat, brie cheese, sun-dried tomato and more, this sandwich—which comes on a house-made baguette—is as satiating as it is tasty.

Danish

My second favorite pastry on the menu (after the Cruffin), The Crumb Factory’s danish puts an upscale twist on a well-known bakery classic.

With an airy, layered base reminiscent of a “lobster tail,” and a mascarpone cheese or fruity custard topping (foodie’s choice), this treat is a must-try for refined palates in search of something sweet.

Ready to eat?

Ready to indulge in some mouthwatering baked goods, stacked sandwiches and artisan breads? The Crumb Factory Bakery and Café is open 7 days a week at 5701 Central Avenue.

Plain and “simple”—like its recipes—this modern mom-and-pop is absolutely worth the trip.

To explore The Crumb Factory Bakery and Café’s full menu, operating hours or more, foodies can visit the café’s official website, or follow the team on Instagram and Facebook.

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