The Thousands

Biting into a flakey, slightly dry pastry from a fancy local baker, a friend remarked: “it’s good, but where is the love?” Elsewhere it seems, because our baked goods hadn’t been warmed or wrapped but plucked from a counter of similarly unloved bready bits then dumped in waxy paper. They were some sad little pastries.

You don’t find such folorn bread at Sonoma. The earthy loaves, moorish rolls and filled sandwiches are obviously kneeded by a baker who cares.**Sonoma might have expanded from laid back Alexandria to la di da Paddington, but it hasn’t lost its edge. The little cafe is more refined than its sister, with Humbug striped walls and a chrome finished counter. The offering however, is classic Sonoma; country sourdough, Miche loaves, with the option of a mushroom gruyere tartine. The staff are genuinely friendly but not intrusive. Here, the love is clearly in the dough.