fund-raising events. Up to $2.00 from each sale goes to the sponsoring organization. If you know an organization that would be interested in conducting a fund-raiser, contact Terri Stott for more information. BearClaw Bakery has an large selection of other baked good available, including but not limited to bearclaws, assorted small, large, and specialty doughnuts; turnovers, cheese danish, fruit squares, raisin snails, butter horns, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and scones. All items are freshly prepared every day using high quality ingredients. Noteworthy is that BearClaw uses all-butter rolling, and does not use partially hydrogenated oil in their baking. BearClaw also custom makes cakes, including wedding cakes, upon request. Pre-orders should be placed a minimum of 24–48 hours in advance. BearClaw also offers seasonal baked goods at various times of the year, such as holiday pies. Full details about seasonal offerings are available on BearClaw’s website by viewing their seasonal menus. During our visit, Terri was eager for my guest and to try one of their Paninis, which have become very popular since BearClaw began offering them in 2010. My guest selected the “Gobb Father”, made with house-made pesto, turkey, provolone and tomatoes; and I chose the “Rico Suave”, made with house-made pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, and prosciutto. Within minutes, BearClaw employee Margarita served us the two warm Panini’s, wrapped in red and white checkered paper, each cut in half to show the generous layers of ingredients. These sandwiches are served on sourdough rolls, and are lightly grilled, resulting in a pleasingly crunchy outside, and a soft inside filled with fresh ingredients. All of the meats used at BearClaw for sandwiches and other savory items are nitrate-free; in fact the chicken and roast beef are freshly cooked on-site daily. Breads are also made on site, and the local Farmer’s Market is the source for all vegetables and fruits, when available. We enjoyed our Paninis, and found them to be very fresh, delicious and filling. It isn’t always easy to keep a small business afloat in an increasingly competitive and volatile economic environment. BearClaw Bakery nearly succumbed to the economic downturn in 2009 and may have closed its doors had it not been for the loyal patrons and community leaders who rallied to keep the business alive during that time. Several Pinole community leaders including, but not limited to, yvette Ricco, Stacey Dillon, and LeAnn Miller, organized a campaign to raise the funds necessary to help the Stott family restructure and keep the business viable. Local contractors, such as All Star Painting, also donated services to upgrade the business. Because of these heartwarming gestures, BearClaw remained open, and today has a tremendous following of loyal customers. We observed many regulars who are on a first name basis with the employees, and many passers-by who also came in for a favorite treat. BearClaw also is a convenient stop for bicyclists groups who pause their journeys to pick up drinks, snacks, or lunch, sometimes filling the small bakery lobby with up to 20 people at a time. BearClaw reciprocates the community support they received through regular participation in local community events, and occasionally offers kitchen tours and baking experiences for community youth. BearClaw Bakery is a quaint place to stop for coffee and pastries or a savory breakfast croissant or burrito. They offer two seating areas on either side of the counters with 10+ tables and the atmosphere is friendly and comfortable. Adorned with antique furniture, the interior is clean, well-lit and open, and the artfully painted windows welcome patrons with seasonal themes. If you’ve only tried the baked goods, stop by and try a freshly made sandwich, Panini, or a fresh bowl of homemade soup or salad. More importantly, if you’ve never been here at all, you must add BearClaw to your “must-do” list--and tell them Marketplace sent you! MARGARITA-OUR PANNINI MAkeR TeRRI HOeFFeR-STOTT
Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2015
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