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Tacoma Baking Company

Perfectly executed baked goods, great service and coffee? Count me in ...

If your idea of Eden involves baked good and your neighbors ... you’re in luck. Photo credit: Jackie Fender

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ANNOUNCER: The Tacoma Baking Company opened several weeks ago and the lines are still out the door. Five Tacoma families with varying talents banded together to offer creative, locally sourced, and nutritious products to their Hilltop neighborhood. Dutch and Jackie appease their sweet tooth this week.

JACKIE: Come prepared. There will be a line, so here are some protips: bring a pal to chat with while you wait, don't come famished -- snack a bit or plan to come for something on-the-go, make friends with your neighbors. You're going to be in line -- an hour, minimum.

DUTCH: With all the sweet treats available, it was hard to choose just one, and to be fair, I didn't limit myself. I went with a group and we each shared a different pastry which is good, because I'm quite certain I would have eaten myself into a baked goods coma. Ultimately, I found the cinnamon and pecan rolls to be my go-to here. Both are a huge seven to eight inches across fresh bread, cinnamon, and either slathered with cream cheese frosting or ooey gooey caramel and pecans. These are hard to resist.

JACKIE: I also brought company, thinking I was going to avoid carb overload, I was unsuccessful -- I indulged, plenty.

DUTCH: There are plenty of savory options here, as well. The Croque Monsieur is not your everyday ham and cheese sandwich. Two slices of house-made bread are filled with plenty of ham, cheese and a touch of Dijon mustard. It is then topped with more cheese and baked until golden and crispy on the outside while maintaining a soft inside. If you are craving a little egg, as well, then grab the Croque Madam. Both sandwiches are large enough to satisfy nearly any appetite.

JACKIE: We started with the savory and noshed on the same sammie as you. It was a delectable, toasted delight. Really, I wanted to pretend it was a meal and not pure indulgence so it was an excuse to dig into the sweet stuff. Next up was the Apricot Croissant. The window of baked goods was a visual delight of colorful fruits, glazed chocolate, savory sammies and powdered sugar dusted dreams. The croissant stood out thanks to the bright orange center, a perfect semi-circle halved apricot placed in the center. The croissant was perfectly flaky with a kick of fresh sweetness of fruit. It wasn't over indulgent and the perfect treat paired with a cup of Bluebeard roasted beans coffee.

DUTCH: Aside from the sweet and savory options, I'm most excited to find espresso and seltzer available here. I discovered this treat a few years ago while out of town, and haven't found it since. Until now. Served cold, this beverage combines intense espresso shots with sparkling seltzer water. I like to add just a bit of cream to mine to cut the bitter taste, but either way you take your coffee, this takes iced coffee drinks to a whole new level.

JACKIE: Their coffee game is strong. Between the personable service delivered with a smile (and God knows with that kind of volume it could be a challenge), exquisite baked goods and perfectly crafted coffee concoctions, I imagine they recruited some of the best in town. I ended my adventure with a delightful orb, mousse glazed with rich chocolate and filled with brûléed bananas. No words can articulate how phenomenal it was. I'm glad I walked there and took company to share -- I left feeling giddy. And full.

TACOMA BAKING COMPANY, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday; 1316 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma, tacomabakingcompany.com

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