Although The Union Street Bakery and Cake Shop only opened a few weeks ago, it's such a perfect match for my neighborhood that it feels like it has always been here. The owner, Sandra Holland, has many years of experience as a caterer, baker and business woman. She also has an Associates Degree from RISD in Culinary Arts with a focus on pastry. When I first moved to Brunswick, Sandy was running the Humble Gourmet, a similar bakery/sandwich shop but in a less hospitable location. Her new venture is located on a quiet, tree-lined side street near the public library and in easy walking distance to everything in Brunswick, including my house.
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| The Union Street Bakery: 40 Union St, Brunswick, Maine |
After a leisurely lunch, Henry and I ordered a gluten free birthday cake for our daughter. Sandy was amazed to hear that our little girl with Shirley Temple curls could be turning eighteen and heading to college. Years ago, we'd carpooled our sons to Audubon summer day camp.
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| Sandra Holland & her crew Photo curtesy Union Street Bakery |
After lunch, I walked a couple blocks to the Gulf of Maine Bookstore to buy two copies of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, one for me and one for my daughter. She loved To Kill a Mockingbird so much, she named our dog Scout. I'm planning to post my impressions of this controversial lost-manuscript-found-book next week. Who else is reading it (no spoilers please)? You can read/listen to a free sample posted by The Guardian here. If I'm not online, I'm probably reading in my hammock.
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| Daisies in Pickard Fields, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine |
11 comments:
Fascinating. I'm sorry to report our rural county had more than a dozen "small town bakeries" fifty years ago. Now there is only one left so to be closed as the now elderly couple retires. The big box stores in Rochester a half hour away don't really fill the place but then small town garages with a mechanic are gone and most family firmly farms etc. as well. This is called progress. Ah for some real Bismarck's....
Looks like a wonderful bakery to hang out & eat lunch & read too. So scenic in Maine. I'll look for your review of Watchman. I'm going to take a little break from it since just rereading Mockingbird. But I still hope to hear it has some writing in it.
I love the ambiance. Your photos do the place justice. I would visit it tomorrow if I had the chance. It's got a certain air and style. Thanks.
Greetings from London.
Go Set a Watchman is winging its way to me - I shall be interested to read your impressions in due course.
I love little restaurants like your Union Street Bakery - we have a 'little treasure' too with bow windows to watch the world go by whilst indulging in simple but tasty lunches followed by a delicious slice of home baked cake.
What a pretty bakery! And happy birthday to your daughter.
Beautiful daisies! What a nice homey bakery. Good luck to her!
Big fan of the Lee book and film but have no strong desire to read this continuation.
You're so lucky to have such a cozy coffeeshop in your neighborhood. My first thought when I saw the first photo was that this would be just like stepping into a friend's home to share a cup of coffee. My copy of "Go Set a Watchman" is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it. I've read so many negative comments on Facebook, but I'm curious to see what Harper Lee's first thoughts about her characters were.
What a great looking cafe. I could have walked into your picture and sat right down. And I am impressed with the gluten free baking. I am just about to go gluten free to see if it helps with a health issue and am amazed at how few places really cater for it!
I'll be right over for a bit of that lemon cake!
You had me at toasted turkey BLT and Cat Stevens!
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