DENTON, Md. – A Denton go-getter couple is the driving force behind a lively spot for great coffee and great food to go with it. Gourmet Friday hosts Hannah Cecini and Photog Mike visit Craft Bakery & Cafe and Night Kitchen Coffee.
cup of joe
When it comes to beer, there's something for everyone.
“If they like a stronger coffee, we have that. If they like a more fruity coffee or a more acidic coffee, we have that. And anything in between. We have everything,” said co-owner and coffee roaster John Rutkowski. “You can expect a very good balance of sweetness and acidity. An easy-drinking, approachable coffee.”
But great coffee starts before roasting, says John.
“My philosophy starts with the producers who make the coffee. My main goal is to work with the same coffee producers year after year,” John explained. “It creates a steady stream of income for them and allows them to take care of the people who work on the farm and pay them a decent wage.”
Once the coffee beans arrive at Denton, the roasting process begins. The beans are poured into the roaster and John turns on the air flow to adjust to the desired temperature.
After a short wait, the beans are ready to be ground and made into a delicious cup of joe.
“This is really easy to drink. Pairs perfectly with any pastry,” Hannah said on her first sip. “Or maybe you think a good cup of coffee would go well with a sandwich.”
Sandwiches worth researching
Luckily for the Foodie team, we were able to try both. That's where co-owner and pastry chef Bri Rutkowski comes in. While John handles the beans, Mr. Bri handles them and finishes them skillfully. Start with a homemade chili salt sourdough bagel sandwiched with towering sausage, baked egg, and cheddar cheese.
“We have very distinct layers of protein. We have egg days and we have sausage days,” Mike joked about the chunky sandwich. “Generations will learn this lesson later.”
But seriously, Hannah said, “The sausage is really well seasoned. It comes in really thick slices.” “That's a regular bagel. It's textured, it has the right chew, and it has a nice little crust on the outside. But I also like that it's a sourdough bagel, because underneath it all… Because it gives it a funky vibe.”
The Joan
Jaune is also on the menu. It is an amalgamation of the ideas of the married co-owners. “I think we did this as a one-time special and sold so many products that we thought, 'And this is never going to go away,'” Bri explained.
It starts with brie focaccia slathered in John's “super secret sauce.”
“It's essentially Dijonnaise, but without Dijon it's a spicy brown mustard,” Bri says. “It actually has a little bit of herbs, a little bit of hot sauce, and a little bit of pickle juice.”
Add the pickled pepper spread, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and shredded romaine cheese tossed with salt and pepper. Add provolone cheese and meat. “It's ham, prosciutto, two types of salami, and olive bread,” Bri said.
“These peppers have a really nice mild vinegar effect that reminds me of the experience of a fresh deli sandwich,” Mike said. “[The focaccia is] It's fluffy and the skin has a wonderful crunchy texture. I really liked that they used finishing salt to add a little saltiness. ”
perfect pastry
Even if you're full, you can't leave without trying some of the yellowtail pastries like cardamom knots. “It has a really savory flavor. If you've never had cardamom, it's very herbal. I'd go so far as to say it's almost a smoky flavor in a way. But there are little lumps of sugar and a sweet component in the pastry. ,” Hannah said.
And then tie the prosciutto.
“Imagine you have a super flaky, buttery croissant, and you put prosciutto and Gruyère in the middle and cover it with bagel seasoning,” Hannah said with a smile. “It's probably a good thing I don't live near here, because I spend all my money on ham knots here every day.”
Craft Bakery & Cafe
Craft Bakery & Cafe and Night Kitchen Coffee are located at 12 South 3rd Streer, Denton, MD. 410-934-7519. If you go see it, just tell the team you saw it on Foodie Friday.
