Alan and I grieved when OctoberFeast closed several years ago. We loved their pretzel croissants and seeded pretzels, not to mention their dense, flavorful breads. A few Wednesdays ago when I was at Morell's Bakery I asked the owner if he knew what had happened to OctoberFeast. He told me the couple had divorced and the wife had the business, now under the name Laguna something-or-other and that she was at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market. That was enough information to track it down and I set up a Yelp page for the bakery. That was 4 or 5 weeks ago and either I forgot or the air was too bad or some other reason kept me from going.
Today I went. I was on the late side, a little after 2:00 (the market closes at 3:00) and found parking close by easily. I had emailed Sabine a week or so ago to ask if she sold her baked goods anywhere else and she said she didn't, because of COVID. I was pleased to find her so readily, after a fruitful stop (you should excuse the expression) at Kashiwase Farms' stand, where I had stocked up on stone fruit. Laguna Garden is in the same block, on the opposite side of the street. I went over and saw that they had neither pretzel croissants nor pretzels. Crestfallen, I asked Sabine if they were out and she said they were. That's what I get for going late. I introduced myself and she told me that they didn't make seeded pretzels normally, but that if I emailed her a day ahead they would make me some and save them for me. So I will do that and reserve a couple of pretzel croissants. She did have a few other things, both sweet and savory, and I bought a small rectangular pastry filled w/ a mixture of chocolate and coffee and lightly covered w/ powdered sugar. I had it w/ my afternoon tea and it was delicious, the chocolate/coffee mixture more liquid than the chocolate in a pain au chocolate, but equally dark. Next time I'll explore the savory stuff, both pretzels and croissants and some of whatever else is left when I arrive. read more