Palo Alto: Manresa Bread bakery-cafe will open this week — with 3 new desserts

If you were already a fan of Manresa Bread’s bestselling levain loaves, kouign amann and monkey bread, get ready to add to your shopping list

Avery Ruzicka’s Manresa Bread will open its fourth Bay Area bakery this Friday at Palo Alto’s Town & Country Village — with three new desserts making their debut.

For Peninsula residents who were accustomed to buying from the bakery’s booth at the California Avenue farmers market from 2013 until the pandemic hit, it’s actually a return to Palo Alto. The bakery was launched that year as market stands by Ruzicka and David Kinch, chef-owner of the three-Michelin-starred Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, so that locals could buy breads they had enjoyed in his restaurant.

Gary Pinelli, left, of San Mateo, and employee Herika Payumo, of San Jose, survey the desserts and sandwiches at the new Palo Alto shop during a preview night. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

“We’ve been part of the Palo Alto community for a long time,” said Ruzicka, the head baker and founder who has overseen the brick-and-mortar expansion from Los Gatos to Campbell and Los Altos. “It’s exciting to welcome customers back.”

Joining the inaugural menu here will be three new desserts (actually, entremets, as Manresa calls them, which is French for a layered dessert): Strawberry Rhubarb Roll Cake, Carrot Cake and Almond Rye Blueberry Tart. Also new will be bake-at-home brownie, cookie and waffle mixes.

Hearing that customers want more dessert choices, Ruzicka said she hopes to create other cakes and tarts soon for the repertoire.

This cafe location will also offer Quiche Lorraine, Smoked Salmon Tartine, the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich, Coconut Pearls Breakfast Bowl and other breakfast and lunch items.

Yenny Lopez, of Los Gatos, fills an order at the newest Manresa Bread. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

The coffee bar will serve Verve Coffee beverages, and will also have two taps, one for nitro cold brew and one for kombucha, according to Shiela Garcia, Manresa Bread’s retail manager.

The shop is located where Mayfield Bakery & Cafe had its bakery operation before closing in 2020. Ruzicka has hired a number of Mayfield employees, including the heads of both the front of the house and the back of the house. Daniel Ortiz is the store manager for Palo Alto, and Olga Vellucci, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu and the CCA in San Francisco, is the kitchen manager and pastry chef.

Details: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or until sold out) at 855 El Camino Real. Pre-ordering for popular items is recommended at www.manresabread.com.