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Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2015

OPeN: MONDAyS THROUGH FRIDAyS 6:00 – 2:00 PM, SATURDAyS 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM; CLOSeD ON SUNDAyS the family purchased the current building (previously a glassblowing shop), and spent eight months remodeling it before they could open for business. The couple chose the name “BearClaw Bakery”, and in keeping with family tradition, continues to offer many of Albert Hoeffer’s original bakery recipes. Ben Hoeffer played an integral role in the early years of BearClaw Bakery through on-site mentoring of Mike and Terri, and sharing family recipes. When the business first opened, Mike continued to work full-time at Bio-Rad, but in 1984, quit his chemist job to focus strictly on the family business. Ben continued to provide mentorship and assistance at BearClaw until he passed in 2002. Now Mike and Terri run the business, assisted by their children—Luke, Lucy, JJ, and Grace--and a few extended family members and friends. All baking, cooking, and food preparation is done on site in their expansive kitchen behind the storefront, ensuring quality and freshness of all items offered to their customers. The kitchen even boasts a few pieces of original equipment from the old restaurant, including a revered century-plus old knife that Mike covets and uses every day. Terri and Mike continuously evaluate their menu offerings to bring new and delectable items to their customers, as well as to respond to external circumstances that sometimes have impacted customer flow. For example, before Richmond Parkway was built, San Pablo Avenue was a main commuter thoroughfare, and BearClaw Bakery was the hot spot to stop for freshly-made pastries and morning coffee. The diversion of that commuter traffic, as well as the advent of other popular community businesses such as Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and other local coffee shops and bakeries that have opened, intensified the competition, and provided BearClaw the opportunity to evolve to the popular bakery, restaurant, and deli that it is today. Not only have more food items been added over the years, but the beverage menu expanded to include a full range of hot and cold espresso drinks, Fruit Smoothies, and Italian sodas. They also sell coffee beans procured from Sunrise Coffee in San Leandro, and RICO SUAve PANNINI-PeSTO MOzzAReLLA TOMATOeS FReSH BASIL PROSCIUTTO the family is currently considering the launch of a new unique coffee blend that will represent the diverse Bay Area population and the community they serve. Stay tuned! Among the most popular-selling baked goods at BearClaw is their own creation, the “Cro-Dough”. Unlike Cronuts (a cross between croissants and donuts) which became popular in recent years, Cro-Doughs are made with a special croissant dough (Mike’s own recipe) with fresh fruit wrapped inside the pastries before they are fried, and then are injected with a yummy filling after they are cooked. BearClaw offers several kinds of Cro-Doughs daily, and my dilemma was choosing between the Strawberries and Cheese, the Bananas and Nutella, and the lemon-filled Cro-Dough. Because these confections are very rich, my guest and I shared one Strawberries and Cheese Cro-Dough and found it to be an exceptional pastry—like a jelly-filled doughnut, but more exquisite! The fresh strawberries added a nice fruity flavor to the dough and the generous amount of cheese filling oozed out of the dessert as I bit into my half! If you haven’t tried one of BearClaw’s Cro-Doughs, you’re in for a real treat! A bargain at $4.00, you’ll want to arrive early for best selection, or call ahead to reserve, as they tend to sell out quickly! Another popular signature item offered at BearClaw Bakery is the Buttermilk Coffee Cake, a special family recipe for over 60 years. Small and large (8 inch) cakes are available for $1.75 and $7.00 respectively and it is hard to keep these cakes on the shelves! My guest and I shared a small coffee cake, and found it to be very moist and delicious, but not overly sweet. It is the perfect accompaniment for a cup of hot coffee or tea! These cakes are so popular and well-known in the community that Terri and Mike make them available for local school and organization BACk ROW: PAOLO, STONe, MARGARITA MIDDLe ROW: MIke & TeRRI STOTT (OWNeRS) AND MAGGIe FRONT ROW: IRISH, LUCy HOLDING BABy LILO, GRACe, AND JJ HOLDING kAIS


Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2015
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