When you come from a gastronomique rennaisance like the Portland, OR. area, it is really disapointing to be in a gastronomique black hole like Cedar Rapids. In Portland the Panera restaurants are better than this one. I think it is because they have to compete with boulangeries and real bakeries that make outstanding bread. There is no bakery in Cedar Rapids that makes their own bread except Panera (that I know of, does the Czech village make more than just rye bread?). I visited the local Hyvee on Collins Rd and bought a baguette. It was terrible. It tasted like it was several days old. I don't think they even have a baker on the spot baking fresh bread every day like Safeway, New Seasons or even Fred Meyer in Portland, OR. The other bakeries in town are pastry bakeries and don't make the miches and baguettes.
I went during lunch to pick up a baguette after the Hyvee disapointment. Despite the bad reviews, the place was packed. I looked at the breads on display and asked if there was a baguette. She looked back and said there was some available. I looked again and noticed that the baguettes were on the tallest shelf. I asked for a baguette and the counter person appeared suprised that was all I wanted. Another counter person came to help me, which was odd. She wrapped up the baguette. I asked her when I could pick up a fresh hot baguette. She looked at me as if no one had ever asked her that question before, as if I was speaking Polish, and disapeared into the back of the store. She came back and said it would be available in 5 minutes. I asked her if they were avaialbe throughout the day or just at certain times. She had to again go back and ask the baker. Why did't the baker just come and talk with me? The counter person said they are available throughout the day but you have to ask when since they didn't always know when the baker would be taking fresh bread out of the oven. I thanked her and paid for my baguette.
At home I made a liverwurst sandwich with head cheese, lettuce, Vietnamese pork roll and mayo. One thing about this baguette is that the crust is not crunchy. This is odd for a baguette which should be crunchy on the outside but moist and soft on the inside. Their recipe is not great and they probably don't use steam during the baking process. Even for home bakers we use a small pan with water in the lower compartment of the stove to emit steam or use a plant mister. The steam is very important for the nice rich crunchy crust. The baguette in appearance is very pretty but not the best. The flesh of the baguette is doughy and dense not light and fluffy with lots of air bubbles. I wonder if Panera places style over substance. One baguette - $2.75.
I would give Panera 2.5 stars but Yelp does not have half stars so I will give it 2 stars. The counterperson was helpful but uninformed of the baking side of the business. The baker did not come out to talk to me about the bread after being asked questions about the bread availabilty. The bread selection itself is minimal and a disapointment. It appears to be the only bread bakery in town which is too bad because the quality is not good. Even Costco has bakery bread that is on par if not better than this Panera. The Panera bakery in Portland, Oregon is better than this location which is strange since they are supposed to be using the same recipes and baking methods for all their stores. Perhaps the dough, which is not made at Panera but by a supplier, is made by a different supplier with lower quality standards although this would not answer the question of why the crust was so low grade. That is the baker's fault.
Service - 3 (because the counter person does not seem to know anything about baking or what the bakers do and the opposite for bakers, they do not interact with customers)
Selection - 2
Quality- 2
Is there any place to get a real fresh baguette around here? If there is some homemaker or secret baker out there making crunchy crust delicious baguettes, I'd like to know their location and whereabouts. I'm serious. Many of the best bread bakeries and boulangeries started as home businesses.
Update 10/17/2012 - On my way back from Anamosa I stopped by the Hyvee in Marion. It was my first time at this particular location. I stopped by the bakery and there were people actually working in the bakery. Did I miss this at the Collins Rd/Lindale Mall Hyvee? I saw the baguettes in their paper wrapers and squeezed one of the baguettes. I heard a "Crunch" and was excited. I ate a piece while in the car. I was very suprised by the crunchy skin and it was very soft on the inside with bubbles in the bread. I had crumbs on my shirt and lap. I like my baguettes super crunchy so it was not excellent but it was passable, better than Panera. read more
