Employee of the Summer

What a summer it has been at Bread and Roses. Our new renovations were clearly a big hit.  We had lines out the door almost every morning and night.  The kitchen was buzzing almost twenty hours a day - mixers whirring with batters, ovens full of breads, big chewy cookies, cakes, flakey croissants, muffins, scones  and pies.  The bakers are busy day and night preparing delicious pastries, decorating a special cake, making fresh lunches and breakfast pastries.
In the shop, the esprresso machine and coffee brewer are going full tilt. We often sell  hundreds of cappuccinos. lattes and perfectly brewed Carpe Diem coffees  before noon. The lines for pastry wind out the door.  The servers work hard to smile, fill the baskets and get your order all at the same time.  We rush about cleaning the counters and the glass, wiping the porch tables, stocking the shelves, napkins and lids. Controlled chaos.

The cashiers stand ready to make sure you have everything you need, and that you have a wonderful experience at Bread and Roses. They interpret some bleary eyed requests for that morning coffee, assist a newcomer in navigating the system, and try really hard to make your day great.

The anchor in all of this is Hallie Woods. Hallie first started working at Bread and Roses when she was a freshman at Wells High School. She is always positive and cheerful - ready to assist you in any way. Her mind is a computer at warp speed and she can intuit what you need long before you know. Day in and day out she has been at the register every morning serving customers and processing hundreds of transactions.  Hallie is a true team player. She is always willing to what ever is needed for the business and always with a positive attitude.  She is the person who has had the difficult job of keeping the customers happy, and keeping her focus with lines out the door, while smiling and representing me- even on some trying days when customers can make you cry and you can't even get a drink of water because it's just too busy.

At the beginning of the season, we decided we would choose one person who best promoted Bread and Roses Bakery and reward them with a prize.
I am so fortunate to have so many amazing people working together every day. This is hard work and I am continuously amazed at how positive the energy is.

Congratulations and a profound thank you to Hallie Woods for your eight years of hard work. Bread and Roses Bakery is a great place because of Hallie. Thanks Hallie and best of luck as you begin your senior year at Middlebury College.
Thanks!
Mary

Bread & Roses Fan Club

The love and positive energy that floats over Bread and Roses bakery on Main Street in Ogunquit ME is right out of old town USA.  As the official B&R greeter, I have the fortune to greet people from different parts of the country as well as people from Canada.  A nice couple from Texas could not believe it was as hot in Maine as it is in their state.  They came to escape the heat.  They stumbled upon the bakery and have been coming here every day.

This happy customer went right for the cookie!

 And this happy customer is willing to talk about her love the for our bakery and we thank her!

The best part of being a B&R greeter is to witness the genuine appreciation that customers have for the bakery.  So many happy people who love the new surroundings and come each day for their morning brew and pastry.   Another fun day @ Bread and Roses with our customers and fan club..

Bread and Roses Baker Blog: A morning @ Bread and Roses

Bread and Roses Baker Blog: A morning @ Bread and Roses: "I was asked by Mary to greet customers at the front door of B&R, as her social media strategist, it would be a great way to get feedback on ..."

A morning @ Bread and Roses

I was asked by Mary to greet customers at the front door of B&R, as her social media strategist, it would be a great way to get feedback on the bakery and the new store.  And who says no to Mary Breen?

Today, I walked into the bakery a little before 8am, the smell of coffee was intoxicating, but the blueberry lemon scones stopped me dead in my tracks.  As I stood at the door way, and looked into the bakery, the faces of the young women behind the register smiled back at me, alert and ready for the stampede.  I had no idea how people love their baked goods.  Some dart by the buttery cinnamon puffs for the coffee.  Many linger and seem to eat everything with their eyes.

"Good Morning. Welcome to Bread and Roses." Sleepy kids and happy parents greeted me with pure delight.  " Oh the morning glories, or the blues?" "Let's take one of each, we are on vacation."  As the sun came over Main Street, the lines formed at the door.  Young and old streaming in for their fix of delights and coffee.  Happy, tanned vacationers coming to their paradise of sorts.  So many pleased by the new store layout.

I met more people who shared that they have been coming here with their kids for years and just love the morning ritual of muffins, scones, coffee and o.j. on the deck at Bread and Roses.  It's summer time families, friends, locals and tourist all convene on a Monday summer morning.  What can be better than a cup of hot coffee and one of Mary's Cinnamon twists?  Welcome to Bread and Roses!

SUMMER is here!

Happy Summer everyone. We are now open every day until 8 pm during the week and 10 pm on Weekends. Beginning next Friday- June 24, we will be open until 11 p.m. every day.  We are looking forward to seeing you, and pride ourselves on baking the freshest and most delicious pastries, great coffee drinks, healthy lunches, and friendly, professional service.
For Breakfast, we have freshly made Quiche, and scrambled egg and cheese croissant sandwiches made with Pete and Gerry's Cage Free Eggs. Or Stonyfield Farm organic nonfat vanilla yogurt and fruit parfait with house made granola. Our muffins are made from scratch with the same recipe we started out with 23 years ago- Maine Blueberry, Sour cream Raspberry, Morning Glory, our famous Cinnamon Butter Puffs.  Have you tried our scones?  Mixed by hand- never with a machine. This keeps them tender. Try Blueberry Lemon, or Cranberry Orange.  How about a warm flakey butter croissant or Kristin's homemade Chocolate Brioche with fresh pastry cream and dark chocolate?
Carpe Diem Coffee- a local micro roastery provides us with the freshest and the best coffee I have ever had. I order my beans on Monday. They are roasted to order and delivered by Thursday. Try our perfectly brewed and always fresh Bread and Roses Blend, or Thunderbolt, Organic Foggy Morning, Hazelnut, Vanilla Bean, Decaf hazelnut, or Decaf  Organic Foggy Morning. 
Try a latte, Cappuccino or Mocha with a Perfectly Pulled shot of Espresso and the flavorings of your choice.  How about an iced coffee made with freshly brewed and cooled coffee- Never the old stuff.
We are looking forward to making your day sweet. Come see us.

Mary Breen  and Company

Bread and Roses Baker Blog: Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Bread and Roses Baker Blog: Happy Memorial Day Weekend!: "In honor of Memorial day we are baking our traditional holiday cakes, pies and as usual, baking up a storm at the bakery. The start of the..."

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

In honor of Memorial day we are baking our traditional holiday cakes, pies and as usual, baking up a storm at the bakery.

The start of the summer is officially underway.  We are so happy with our new surroundings and all the positive comments and well wishes.  If you have not stopped by yet, make sure you do. It's so nice to see the happy faces of our returning customers when they come in and see our new space.

Bread and Roses has gone social and being social is being rewarded!

Check out our Facebook check-in promotion.

We are Tweeting our daily drink and lunch specials

Looking for a new Foursquare Mayor, coffee is on us!   Foursquare Newbies come in and get your Cinnamon Twist.

Come meet our new and returning staff.  They will tell you why being social is being rewarded at Bread and Roses!

All our best,

Mary and Bread and Roses Staff