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| - There are some people who think all bread is the same, but there are those of us who appreciate it as the art form it can be when done right.
Venezia Bakery bakes bread that tastes good and is not from a factory. A real "mom & pop" kind of store, that offers everything from sandwiches and coffee to a wide variety of Portuguese specialty items, including the famous custard tarts.
The sweet older lady (owner? "mom"?) behind the counter was very helpful, I went in looking for Portuguese corn bread - a dense, moist, white bread with a seriously crunchy crust - this is not the yellow corn bread of the South, it is a Portuguese specialty that I had at a restaurant, and after doing some research, Venezia was the place to get it, and I'm so glad I did. Delicious! It's not that often you can say that about "white bread" but this bread is not Wonder bread, it's a loaf that has character and history, and love.
I also bought a loaf of what the lady behind the counter called "their specialty" - a blend of white and whole wheat flour - no corn flour. It was so tender and soft but again, such unexpected flavour for a piece of bread, with a thinner, crisper crust than the corn bread, I will be back for both kinds.
I also purchased a box of treats to share, and the overwhelming surprise was the brownies! A shiny crispy crackling top and a deep, dark, chewy and fudgy center... not the least bit dry or cakey, like many brownies these days... my only wish is that it had walnuts, and it would have been the brownie of my childhood in the 70's that you just can't find these days.
I will be back soon, this is the kind of place that I love to shop at and hope to keep alive - a shop with character and quality, owned and operated by lovely people. I'm a serious fan!
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