In a quiet way, the area where South Boulder Road meets South Public Road has slowly become Boulder County’s oasis of baked goods. The newest addition to Lafayette’s impressive bakery roster is Sweet Bites Panaderia at 100 E. South Boulder Road. The tiny family-run establishment is turning out traditional doughnuts and classic Mexican baked goods including sweet breads, conchas, pineapple and pumpkin empanadas, cream-filled flaky pastries, cakes, and pig-shaped puerquitos cookies. Don’t miss the jalapeno and cream cheese turnovers.
Anchoring Lafayette’s goodie-making community just a block from Sweet Bites is the full-service Button Rock Bakery. The glass cases are stocked with cake pops, lemon bars, eclairs, pies, scones, cookie sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies, macaroons and macaron, almond croissants, specialty cakes and gluten-free treats. The space has expanded to include a sushi counter and deli sandwich counter.
Next door, the recently opened Nok’s Donuts has raised the bar for yeasted fried dough in Boulder County. The family-owned shop is one of the few that doesn’t use pre-made mixes and glazes. Everything is made from scratch with natural ingredients with an emphasis on sustainability. Glaze flavors range from intense dark chocolate and real maple to fresh lemon, matcha tea with fresh coconut and artisan espresso.
North on South Public Road you’ll find Deli-Cious Z. Besides dishing out classic breakfast and lunch favorites, the take-out spot produces homestyle desserts including donuts, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies and muffins. Nearby is Eats & Sweets, a favorite local scoop, soup and sandwich shop that stocks freshly baked pastries. Don’t miss the chocolate peanut butter bar, cheesecake and banana bread ice cream sandwiches.
Up the street is the Tip Top Savory Pies shack, famous for hand-held, New Zealand-style pies ranging from chicken, mushroom and ale to cauliflower tikka masala wrapped in tender buttery crust. Sweet pie flavors include peach, cherry and apple brown butter.
Lafayette’s other buttery attraction is the fairly new and wonderful Jeannot’s Patisserie & Bistro. The French-born owner/pastry chef crafts traditional croissants, pain au chocolat, financiers, tarts, éclairs and cakes.
Need more baked goods? Down the road a couple of miles in Louisville are Moxie Bread Company, The Huckleberry and Bittersweet Café, which bakes its own chocolate raspberry scones, biscotti, chocolate coconut macaroon, lemon crumb bars, vegan magic bars and peanut butter puddle cookies.
Boulder Recipe Flashback: John’s Swordfish
For many years chef John Bizzarro dished artistic Italian and French favorites in the small house on east Pearl Street (now the site of River & Woods). The following recipe was published in a spiral-bound community cookbook, 1979’s The Best of Boulder II, compiled by the Boulder Community Hospital Auxiliary.
John’s Restaurant Swordfish with Caper Butter
Press damp swordfish steaks into bread crumbs that have been seasoned with finely minced fresh thyme, salt and black pepper. Pan-fry swordfish in a small amount of oil until the crust is light brown. Drain off excess oil. In a bowl mix 1/4 pound soft butter, 1/4 cup drained mashed capers and three large cloves of mashed or finely minced fresh garlic. Add mixture to pan and heat over low flame for about one minute. Serve with lime wedges.
Culinary Calendar: Plant-based Tastes
The debut Planet-Based Living Festival, Aug. 28 at the Boulder Bandshell, features local vendors serving plant-based ice cream, tacos, gluten-free pastries, wings, smothered tots, tapas, frozen ice drinks, smoothies, momos, baklava, kombucha and agua fresca. … Tickets to the 2022 World Slopper Eating Championship, Aug. 27 at the Colorado State Fair, are sold out. A Slopper is an open-faced cheeseburger smothered in pork green chile. … Coming attractions: Taste of The Middle East Festival, Sept. 17, Aurora, tasteofthemiddleeast.com; Colorado Mountain Wine Festival, Sept. 17, Palisade coloradowinefest.com; Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival, Sept. 23-26, pueblochilefestival.com.
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