Indulgent Ideas for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Mother’s Day is nearly here, and while we appreciate our mothers every day, we love taking this holiday to truly spoil her with something delectable. Our Mother’s Day brunch menu is sure to delight, and we have something extra special for moms dining with us on Sunday. But we understand that some moms might just love to spend a relaxing morning at home. For those seeking a slower pace to their day, we’ve whipped up a batch of sweet ideas for breakfast-in-bed.

For the mom who prefers to eat desert first (no matter the time of day) our Mini Rustic Almond Cake topped with rich ganache and tart raspberries is a win.
Moms who like some savory with their sweet will appreciate a plate of flaky Buttermilk Biscuits with strawberry or marionberry jam.
For those who prefer to add a personal touch to their Mother’s Day breakfast, any of our Brioche loaves take homemade french toast to a whole new realm. Chocolate Cherry Brioche french toast, anyone?
And, who says Mother’s Day has to be celebrated in the morning. Our Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake (pictured above), laced with decadent mocha and ripe raspberries, is the perfect end to a perfect day.

Wishing all of the wonderful mothers out there a very happy Mother’s Day! Have a lovely weekend!

Meet the Artist: Jo Moniz

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Jo Moniz, Aero, 2012, Mixed Encaustic on rice paper, 72 x 62 inches

Jo Moniz, a Pacific Northwest based artist, is currently exhibiting her work at our McGraw café. According to Jo, the featured work was influenced by “aerial views of flattened lands with distant horizons illuminated by the clear eastern sky.” Jo recently shared with us about unearthing inspiration, communing with her favorite artists, and creating in the kitchen.

How did you decide to show your work at Macrina Bakery?

When I was showing at the Shift [Collaborative Studio] in Pioneer Square I met another artist, Ellen Hochberg, who said that Macrina was curating artists to show at their locations. I have always been a Macrina fan and have been making cakes and other goodies from my Macrina cookbook for years, so I thought it would be fun to show with you.

On your website, you talk about finding inspiration for your work in the world around you. How has this inspiration evolved throughout your career?

I think that the biggest shift in my inspiration has actually just come from trusting my instincts more as I grow more confident. I let ideas come to the surface instead of thinking about whether they are worthy or not.

Is there a place that inspires you the most?

I really don’t find that I am necessarily inspired to make art by a “place.” Any place that I find myself in a happy frame of mind is inspiring. It’s really internal for me.

In addition to drawing, painting, and sculpture, you have a background in architecture. What’s your favorite medium?

I have been concentrating on encaustic medium right now. I find it just endlessly capable of new applications in my work. I love layering the paint and seeing what happens to the texture and color. I use architectural shapes in my paintings and actually use my triangles and rulers to etch lines into the surface.

What’s your creative process?

I typically make some very general sketches quickly and go right to the panel and start drawing in graphite. I really don’t worry too much about the final colors at the beginning. Every color and shape changes the adjacent ones, so its like one giant puzzle which I try to solve. I think about the texture and the color of each segment of the drawing. I don’t like my paintings to look like they were time consuming; I like them to feel fresh, even if a painting takes me weeks.

If you could enjoy a meal with three artists, living or deceased, who would they be?

That’s a tough one and hard to narrow down, but if I can’t have a banquet table with more artists for a meal, I would choose Jaume Plensa, because I am really drawn to his sculpture for its bravery and beautiful forms. [Paul] Gauguin would be at the table for his free spirit and his love of color and nature. Ai Weiwei would fill the last spot for his ability to think so clearly and freely about his art.

Is there anything else you would like share with our readers?

If you can’t make it into your neighborhood Macrina, make Leslie Mackie’s Lemon-Sour Cherry Coffee Cake. You won’t be sorry!

You can find Jo’s work at our McGraw café through the end of May. Jo is preparing for a two-person show with artist Jane Richlovsky at Seattle Art Museum’s TASTE Restaurant in June.

Local, Make That National, Favorite: Hitchcock Restaurant

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Chef Brendan McGill
Image: Hitchcock Restaurant

Local = regional, native, topical

He may not be a native of the Puget Sound area, but chef, Brendan McGill has given a new meaning to local. To Brendan, it means sourcing products from area farmers, fishers, and producers. Here at Macrina, we are honored to be one of those local sources.

We’ve been a fan of his restaurant Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island since it opened in 2010. Not because they use our products (sure, it’s a plus), but because they make beautiful food. It’s no wonder that Brendan was voted by Food & Wine Magazine readers as “People’s Best New Chef”. Our sales manager, Rebecca Early rattles off reasons why Hitchcock is so unique: Brendan is an innovative chef who’s “very creative and very committed to hands-on”, he cures his own meats, his plates are beautiful, and he offers a “name your price” tasting menu.

Even before Brendan opened Hitchcock, he was a Macrina devotee. First introduced to our breads and pastries as a diner at Macrina’s Belltown café, he appreciated the quality of our products. Then as the newly-minted chef at The Apartment in 2005, he chose Macrina breads to be part of his menu. With the café down the street from the restaurant, the staff would walk over to pick up their wholesale order. He moved on but remained a fan. “I used different breads at different restaurants, but I really like the quality of Macrina,” he said.

Fir tip ice cream with brioche croutons
Image: Hitchcock Restaurant

When he decided to open his own restaurant, he talked to Rebecca about having Macrina bread on the menu. With two locations – a restaurant and a new deli next door – Macrina products play an even larger role. Our baguettes, potato bread loaves, and Giuseppe rolls, among others, make the trek on the ferry to Winslow to be part of his handcrafted, creative fare.

A native of Alaska, Brendan came to Seattle in 1999 for a culinary degree at the Art Institute of Seattle. His food is inspired by the Pacific Northwest and Europe, where he spent time traveling and cooking in Spain, France, and Italy. This marriage of European cuisine and Puget Sound’s seasonal bounty makes for a menu filled with personality. Starting this summer, he will use produce from his own farm on Bainbridge Island.

Local indeed, AND a national favorite.

To Gluten or Not to Gluten

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

gluten_free_biscuit Macrina Bakery & Cafe Seattle

Macrina’s Gluten-Free Biscuit

Now that March’s National Flour Month is over, we’d like to honor our gluten-free friends with a tribute to treats without the grain that gives them grief.

Gluten, Latin word for glue, is a protein found in all forms of wheat (durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, and faro) and other grains including rye, barley, and triticale. Ideal for baked goods, gluten makes the dough spongy and elastic, giving it the strength and consistency needed to retain its shape and fluffiness. It is also used as a stabilizing agent in food products such as soup, ice cream, salad dressing, and ketchup.

Gluten can be difficult for some people’s systems to process. How do those of you with gluten sensitivity live in a “gluten-ous” world? Very carefully. It’s challenging to bake without wheat flours at Macrina – we love and rely on them for our breads. But we have figured out a few ways to delight our gluten-free* friends who visit our cafes.

Gluten-Free Biscuit
A version of our lightly sweetened cream biscuit made with gluten-free corn flour, tapioca flour, gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, xantham gum, salt, and heavy cream, topped with marionberry freezer jam.

Macaroons
Our chewy coconut cookie in chocolate or vanilla.

Ganache Cupcake
Rich flourless chocolate cake filled with raspberry preserve and glazed with dark chocolate ganache.

Banana Cake
One layer of our rich flourless chocolate cake sandwiched between two layers of moist banana cake filled with roasted bananas and white chocolate buttercream, topped with dark chocolate ganache glaze.

Banana Cupcake
Moist banana cake topped with whipped chocolate ganache.

Bittersweet Chocolate Gateau
Velvety flourless chocolate cake baked with swirls of raspberry preserves and dusted with powdered sugar.

Torta Gianduja
Six layers of rich torta featuring layers of chocolate espresso cake and chocolate hazelnut cake, glazed with bittersweet chocolate ganache and decorated with hazelnuts.

One of each, you say? Even those of us who can tolerate gluten enjoy our gluten-free treats. Call your nearest location to find out what gluten-free products are currently available in the pastry case. We will continue to expand our gluten-free offerings…stay tuned.

*Macrina Bakery is not a gluten-free facility; cross-contamination may occur during the baking process.

SoCal Food Trip with Leslie Mackie

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Recently, Leslie Mackie migrated south. However, unlike many of the Northwest birds that head towards the equator in the winter, she stayed only for a few days. The trip, although short, was long on activities. Part bakery tour and part board meeting with the Bread Bakers Guild of America (BBGA), Leslie ventured to the San Diego area. “Pure heaven for us Pacific Northwesterners,” she commented as she described the 75-85 degree February weather.

Prior to the BBGA meeting, Leslie was joined by co-owners, Scott France and Matt Galvin for the first leg of her trip. Always looking to improve, the trio gleaned information and insights on how to work smarter and more efficiently using examples from fellow bakers. Then, she and fellow BBGA board members congregated in the charming, coastal town of Encinitas, just 20 minutes north of San Diego. Of course, they have to eat, so follow us on a food “road trip” with Leslie.

Stop 1: Bread & Cie. Bakery, San Diego. The bakery specializes in hand-crafted European breads for their café, catering, and wholesale business. Leslie was impressed by the “talented and passionate people who own and manage this bakery.”

Stop 2: Sadie Rose Baking Co., San Diego. The company provides artisan bread for restaurants and hotels with sales to the public at local farmer’s markets and in specialty markets throughout San Diego County. Leslie noted the wonderful malted brown bread and pretzel rolls, and praised the “gracious owners who provided insights on the challenges and successes” of running an artisan bakery.

Stop 3: El Callejon Restaurant, Encinitas. With a tagline of “Authentic Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Museum”, Leslie confirmed that they offer great food and margaritas!

Stop 4: Lofty Bean, Encinitas. This great coffee shop serves flavorful organic coffee from, per Leslie, “really nice people.”

Stop 5: Union Kitchen & Tap, Encinitas. Her recommendations at this lively restaurant are the “tasty flatbread pizzas and creamy grits with spicy shrimp and andouille.”

Stop 6: Darshan Bakery & Café , Encinitas. Jeff Yankellow, Darshan owner and BBGA president brought Viennese pastries and bread for breakfast each day. Leslie’s comment: “Great croissants!”

So, are you ready for a SoCal food trip? Take Leslie’s advice and eat your way around the area! When you are full, take time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean at the next stop.

Stop 7: Self-Realization Fellowship, Encinitas. According to Leslie, this belongs on your list of “don’t miss!” With its stunning coastal setting and beautiful gardens that are open to the public, it’s no wonder that Paramahansa Yogananda was inspired to write Autobiography of a Yogi.

Ommmm and yummmm.

Good Grains! It’s National Flour Month!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Each year we celebrate the usual March holidays – National Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Women’s History Month, but, most importantly, we honor National Flour Month. As a bakery, flour is one of our basic ingredients, whether it’s whole grain, whole wheat, or all-purpose.

Since the beginning of civilization, flour has been the staple of cuisines around the world. When our ancestors discovered they could crush grass seeds into a powder, they dined on flat, hard cakes cooked over a fire. It is the Egyptians in 3,000 BC that figured out how to harvest and use yeast, creating soft loaves by fermenting the dough with heat from the sun.

Luckily, we do not have to grind the grains ourselves. News of this innovation traveled, Romans created watermills, and with the Industrial Age came the technology to mill the flour in large quantity. We have a handful of wonderfully dedicated millers that we rely on for our flours. One of them is Fairhaven Organic Flour Mill in Burlington, about one hour north of Seattle. Fairhaven began in 1974 as a cooperative, and since 2007, has been family-owned by Kevin and Matsuko Christenson. Leslie had the opportunity to visit the mill a while back and was taken by the Christenson’s sincere pledge to buy only locally grown, organic grains that are milled weekly in small batches so they retain as much nutrients as possible.

Amidst the earthy aromas of the fresh, weighty whole grain flour, the Christensons shared their passion for the farmers with whom they have continued to support over the years. It is that commitment to their craft that is most appreciated by the Macrina family. We use Fairhaven’s Rye Flour for many of the artisan breads we produce, including Vollkorn, Pane Francese, and Greek Olive Bread. The recipes for these breads are included in our cookbooks, Macrina Bakery & Café Cookbook and More From Macrina. We hope you will pick up Fairhaven Organic Flour for your bread-making needs and test out some of our recipes in honor of National Flour Month. Happy baking!

Sharing What We Love at St. James Cathedral Kitchen

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

“I need one vegetarian, please.” “Do we have undressed salad?” These were some of the shouts heard coming from the kitchen as our staff prepared and served dinner last Wednesday night. This wasn’t the Macrina kitchen. It was the Cathedral Kitchen, an outreach program of St. James Cathedral in Seattle that serves a nournishing, hot meal five nights a week to people who are homeless and those in need.

Seven Macrina employees shared what they love most: food. “It was such a pleasure to be able to take what we do every day – cooking and baking to provide the best product to our customers – and prepare a meal with these same intentions for people who typically don’t have the opportunity to eat in our cafes,” stated Leslie Mackie, Macrina Bakery’s founder. Leslie gathered a corps of dedicated staff, including Elizabeth Hall, Scott France, Crystal Kitchin, Fanny Alvarado, Rebecca Early, and Jane Cho, who were inspired to help.

The staff, busy ordering food in the days prior, were blessed by the generosity of vendors like Merlino’s, who donated everything that we ordered for the meal. Arriving at 11:00 AM to accept deliveries and prepare food, Leslie didn’t think of it as a long day. “Everyone was so pleased to be there, so it seemed like fun,” she commented.

A project dear to her heart, Leslie planned a menu of comfort food. The staff and St. James volunteers helped cook the meal of meatballs (or mushrooms) with a red sauce on pasta; salad with cranberries, walnuts, feta, and balsamic dressing; our Guiseppe Loaf topped with garlic, butter, salt, fresh herbs, and parmesan cheese; and our Mom’s Chocolate Cake with vanilla ice cream.

At 4:30 PM, guests were lined up on the sidewalk awaiting their warm meal. The volunteers at the Cathedral Kitchen take pride in their welcoming dining experience complete with tablecloths. “Our theory is, if we wouldn’t eat it ourselves, we don’t serve it,” stated Jill McAuliffe, Director of the Cathedral Kitchen. She added that having a business come in to cook and serve a meal is a rarity; however, she’s got quite a few fans at Macrina. The staff will be back in August as part of our 20^th anniversary celebration.

It’s easy to see why volunteers and diners come back on a regular basis. Music in the background wafted from the rear of the dining area, where guest, Billy Jones performed hits from Gershwin to Mozart. He eats and plays almost every night at the kitchen. Wesley Beshears, whose been dining at St. James for a year, decided two months ago to volunteer before and after each meal.

Praises from diners and volunteers were noted: “I’m stuffed!” “I can tell it was a great meal. There’s not much garbage.” Scott added, “I was touched by how appreciative the folks were. Everyone in line said please and thank you. It was obvious how much the meal meant to them.”

Tasting Ireland: Irish Soda Bread

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Around since the mid-19^th century, traditional Irish soda bread contained just four ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. According to Rory O’Connell, co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Ireland, the bread has taken on many adaptations since coming to the U.S.

Many folks are offended by this “corruption” of tradition, like the U.S.-based group Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread. They provide a history of Irish Soda Bread and Ireland, dating back to the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, when Ireland was grappling with the effects of the great potato famine. The bread gained in popularity when poorer families could not afford to buy bread and resorted to making their own. With no ovens in most homes, folks used their cast iron pot with a lid to cook the bread. Baking soda when mixed with sour milk was used as the rising agent.

In the early 20th century, as immigrants from Ireland kept pouring into the U.S., they brought the simple recipe along with them. As the recipe was handed down, each generation created versions of the original, adding embellishments along way including caraway seeds, dried fruit, sugar, eggs, and even yeast!

Our version of the traditional bread from the Land of Éire incorporates thick rolled oats, Fairhaven Mill’s whole-grain wheat flour, buttermilk and a hint of honey. Macrina Bakery Founder Leslie Mackie prefers to eat it toasted with a little bit of butter and jam.

We also make – what our Gaelic friends refer to as the “Spotted Dog” or “Railway Cake” – a version of the Irish soda bread with raisins. Come in for a loaf or two, and enjoy it through March 22.

re:public (yep, no capitals and the colon stays!)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Voted #1 New Restaurant in Western Washington for 2010 by KING5’s Evening Magazine, re:public was one of the first restaurants to move into the South Lake Union neighborhood. Now the neighborhood is a bustling destination spot, not just for the urban professionals who roam the streets during lunch and dinner hours, but for taste bud thrill-seekers on the lookout for perfectly prepared oysters or a sophisticated burger.

It all came together three years ago in a 1920s-era brick building, the brainchild of owners Ruadhri McCormick, Matt Greenup, and Hannes Schindler – just as the Amazon campus was taking shape and before the neighborhood started filling in with restaurants and shops.

From the beginning, the chefs at re:public envisioned a Wagyu burger with a bun that could stand up to its juiciness. Lucky for us, they found Macrina brioche buns filled the bill and, according to Greenup, “tasted the best”. Many of their high quality ingredients are sourced from local producers like Beechers cheese, which is featured on the burger along with Wagyu beef, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, house-made horseradish aioli and apple ketchup. Oh, and don’t forget the mound of hand-cut frites that accompany the burger.

Urbane and hearty, re:public’s Wagyu Burger will keep you coming back to this hip, South Lake Union spot. Our advice…give it a try, and tell them that Macrina sent you.

Happy Hour: Seattle Wine and Food Experience

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Macrina Bakery

Here at Macrina we love food. We love making food and sharing the food we create each day in our bakeries and cafes. And we look forward to events that allow us to share how we make our sweet and savory creations. Seattle Wine and Food Experience is one of those events.

On Sunday, February 24^th, Macrina will be dishing up deliciousness: Guinness Chocolate Mousse Cake (which will be available in our cafes in time for St. Paddy’s Day). You can nosh to your heart’s content around the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, sampling away at creations from chefs around the Seattle area.

The Seattle Wine and Food Experience is the premier showcase for wine, beer, spirits, and gourmet foods in the Northwest. From the vineyards of Oregon to the fields of Eastern Washington, hundreds of opportunities for tasting wines and gourmet foods will be in one central location to satisfy your gastronomical needs.

The event benefits the Giving Grapes Foundation, a national organization providing assistance to local charities that offer financial assistance to service industry professionals who need to take time off work due to injury or illness. The 2013 non-profit is Big Table, located in our home state in Spokane.

Tickets for the 5^th annual Seattle Wine and Food Experience are available on their website. The event runs from noon to 5pm…think of it as one long happy hour!