Chestnut Fine Foods & Confections 1012 State Street, New Haven, Years in Business: 30 years Employees: 6 full-time, 6 part-time, catering staff varies Favorite bread: Baguettes What Foodies Like: The cafe on State Street has a constantly rotating array of fresh-baked breads. On the afternoon we visited, they had a delicious new loaf with cranberry, lavender, and walnut. How They Broke into the Bread Business: While most of Chestnut’s business involves catering for local businesses, Yale, area non-profits, weddings, and a variety of private functions, their 24-seat cafe on State Street offers fresh-baked loaves of bread for sale such as Sesame Whole Wheat and Cranberry Lavender Walnut, along with a deli case full of prepared foods such as lasagna, salads, and pesto penne for take out. Plans for the Future: Fred and Patty Walker, owners of Chestnut Fine Foods, are looking to expand their cafe hours thanks to their new neighbor, the Corsair, a luxury 235-unit apartment.
More Bread Winners G Café Bakery
Chabaso Bakery
Hosting two locations in Branford and New Haven, G Café Bakery gives its visitors the best German bread money can buy. After experiencing German bread through his early years in Venezuela, owner Andrea Corazzini and his wife eventually made their way to New Haven. In 2010, Whole G or Whole German Breads, LLC opened on Hamilton Street as a wholesale breadmaking factory. Since G Café’s opening in Sept. 2013, Corazzini set out to spread the German bread love with products like a German rye bread called Vollkornbrot containing 8 percent protein per loaf. G Bakery also bakes breads for various restaurants, deli shops and gourmet markets in the area.
Founder Charles Negaro set out to create his own quality artisan bread line. More than 30 years since its inception, the business still remains family-owned with its name originating from Negaro’s three children, Charlie, Abigail and Sophia. Chabaso Bakery offers over two dozen bread varieties that are all natural, do not contain trans fats, and have no preservatives. With two days time to mix, they are hearth-baked in European ovens, keeping Old World baking traditions in mind. While carried at dozens of local supermarkets, you can also go to the Chabaso Bakery Retail Outlet at 360 James St. in New Haven.
1008 Main St., Branford. 203-208-0930 141 Orange St., New Haven. 475-238-7164. gcafebakery.com.
La Cuisine Cafe, Market & Catering Owners Peter Lupi III and Larry Lupi, stand in front of the Lupi Marchigiano bakery at 169 Washington Avenue in New Haven.
Lupi Marchigiano 169 Washington Avenue, New Haven Years in Business: 116 Employees: 30 Favorite bread: Wheat and artisan breads, and Lupi’s Rye bread is some of the best you can get outside New York. What Foodies Like: The variety of bread that they offer at their storefront is as fresh as you can get and reasonably priced, especially if you get the “day old” bread. How They Broke into the Bread Business: The business was started by their grandparents on Dixwell Avenue in the Highwood section of Hamden and eventually run by four brothers: Peter (Junior), Rudolph, William, and Johnny. In 1956 the four brothers purchased Legna Bakery and the business was known as Lupi’s Legna Bakery. In 1983 Lupi’s Bakery purchased a well known Hill Section bakery in New Haven, Marchigiano Bakery. Today, Lupi’s Bakery is run by Peter Lupi III and Larry Lupi, and still operates at 169 Washington Avenue in New Haven. A small storefront on Washington Ave. sells a variety of breads such as rye, pumpernickel, semolina, and dinner rolls.
La Cuisine also known as “Home of Judies Bread” serves the legendary bread recipes of Judie Saleeby, owner of the former Judies European Bakery that abruptly closed its doors back in 2013. Ben Bloom knew Judie back when La Cuisine took their initial Guilford location and moved it to Branford and he did not want to let his favorite breads fade. Bloom decided to buy the name and recipes and incorporate them into a La Cuisine location on Grove Street where Judies location previously stood, and also include them in their catering. 750 E Main St., Branford. 203-488-7779, lacuisine.net.
Friends & Company Open for over 35 years, Friends and Company Restaurant uses the same recipes seven days a week to create over 70 loaves of breads for their dedicated customers. These breads are served all year round in their dining room area and at Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford. Back in 1980, owners Dick and Mac gave the place its name with the idea in mind that friends and company can come along no matter what time of year, and enjoy themselves along the shoreline. All these years later, the current owners, Gregory Benson and Brian Gondek still make sure to keep that goal in mind. 11 Boston Post Rd., Madison. 203-245-0462, friendsandcompanyrestaurant.com.
360 James St., New Haven. 203-562-9007, chabaso.com.
Cohen’s Bagel Company Rob and Christine Cohen moved to the Madison area in 2001 and even though they loved the atmosphere, one thing came up short: a quality bagel and cream cheese breakfast. This eventually led to the concept and idea behind Cohen’s Bagel Company— the doors officially opened 12 years later in 2013. Bringing their experience from Bronx and Westchester Counties in New York and guidance from others, Cohen’s came up with the perfect bagel recipe to satisfy their customers. Some of their bagel flavors include plain, salt, everything, jalapeño, cranberry orange, garlic, sun-dried tomato, and cinnamon crunch. 1347 Boston Post Rd. Ste 105, Madison. 203-318-5090, cohensbagelcompany.com.
Bagelicious Bagels of Cheshire Bagelicious founder Andrew Moskowitz wasn’t sure if he wanted to start a pizza joint or bagel shop, but he eventually settled on bagels and has been a great success with the Cheshire community ever since. During his 16 year run at the same South Main Street location, Moskowitz received great praise for delicious bagels and his overwhelming support of community causes. Along with bagels, Moskowitz developed many of his own cream cheese spreads like raisin walnut along with soda lines like Eli’s Orange and Isaac’s Black Cherry—named after his children. Even though Moskowitz recently sold his business, the breakfast and bagel spot still stands strong. Bagels also distributed to area restaurants and grocers, like Katz’s Deli in Woodbridge. Cheshire Shopping Center, 945 S Main St., Cheshire. 203-250-9339,
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