Bakery Challenge
By Warren Rojas
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| Best Buns Bread Co. | vs. | Great Harvest Bread Co |
| Olive, garlic & herb, Two raisin pecan, Big City sour, Poblano cheddar, Herb muenster | SIGNATURE GRAINS | Old-fashioned white, Honey whole wheat, Apple scrapple, 9-grain, Breakfast blast |
| Produce a dozen breads daily (challah rolled out on weekends; oats, raisins & rye loaves, and garlic-parmesan rolls by request) | VARIETY | Produce circa 10 breads which rotate daily (including seasonal, gluten-free and assorted specialty offerings) |
| Gourmet cupcakes, mini bundt cakes (chocolate or carrot), cookies, muffins, sticky buns, Danish, scones, biscotti | GOODIES | Rotating cookies (double chocolate chip, turtle, butterscotch, oatmeal raisin), tea loaves (chocolate brownie, pumpkin spice) |
| Prepare a dozen gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups and focaccias daily. Also offer Starbucks coffee. | EXTRAS | I never tire of hearing, “May I please cut you a slice today?” (staff distributes free samples with gusto). |
| 4010 Campbell Ave., Arlington; 703-578-1550; www.greatamericanrestaurants.com | LOCATIONS | Multiple NoVA locations; www.greatharvest.com |
Verdict: Although I admire GHBC’s farm stand feel and their free-form sweets (hot cross buns, star spangled swirl), I’ve gotta give this round to BBBC based on their Herculean sandwiches. What say you?
(October 2009)