Craft Gourmet Bakery

A Dash of Delicious to Brighten Your Day

Craft Gourmet Bakery owner, Chef Jordan Hewes, has had baking in her blood since childhood. Her earliest memories find her standing on a step stool next to her mother or grandmother, with flour on her face, wearing an apron, and holding a whisk. From her early days in small-town Kansas, young Jordan knew that baking would be in her future. She went on to earn a degree in baking and pastry, as well as a bachelor’s in business management. She spent a couple of years at a series of jobs in and around Louisville, Kentucky, to which she credits her palate and technique.

After Chef Jordan moved to Pensacola in 2013, she began to explore baking options. She led the pastry department at Perdido Beach Resort for two years before chance led her to meet George and Luba Lazi. Chef Jordan joined their team at George Artisan Bakery and Bistro, designing the pastry and dessert selection and eventually moving up to lead the bread department. The concept for Craft Gourmet Bakery evolved during her tenure at George, and in the fall of 2018, Chef Jordan was able to bring it to fruition. “Craft Gourmet Bakery was built around the distinct sense of joy you feel when sharing something you are passionate about with the people you love,” she says. “Our mission is to share our love and passion for our craft, and our vision is to be living proof that hard work, integrity, care, and innovation on all levels creates success.”

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Craft specializes in bread and bakes at least three varieties of artisanal bread every day. Red Sea Sourdough loaves and French baguettes are baked daily along with one or more specials, which are available while supplies last. Craft also supplies several businesses with breads and pastries. Local accounts include Leisure Club, Books-a-million, Quickly, The District Steak House, and Union Public House, among others.

Bread is by no means the only thing baked at Craft. Sweet and savory pastries include a wide selection of croissants, plus several scones and puff pastry creations. The bakery serves breakfast during the mornings they are open. Quiche cups, croissant sandwiches, a breakfast burrito, yogurt with special chai-spiced house granola, Perdido Key Breakfast Club Avocado Toast, and Craft’s special Croissant Knots – which change flavors regularly – are favorite menu selections.

Craft also offers breakfast catering for larger groups, which includes a flexible menu featuring pastries, coffee, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Besides breakfast catering, Craft also offers mini dessert selections – customized to meet the customer’s needs.

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Desserts are another specialty at Craft, and the assortment varies according to the season and the occasion. Cookies, pies and tarts, cupcakes, cheesecakes, mousses, and tortes are available, but each variety is prepared in limited quantities to guarantee freshness. Dessert items may be ordered in advance, however.

Upon opening the bakery, Chef Jordan was excited to get back in touch with making gelato. Although seven flavors are available daily, they often change to take advantage of what is in season. Adding to the pure joy of gelato is the bakery’s build-your-own-float bar where guests combine gelato with one of Craft’s unique traditional soda selections to create an epicurean delight. Gelato can also be used to create an Italian delicacy known as an affogato – your choice of gelato served with a shot of espresso on the side to create the most amazing umami of sweet, bitter, cold, and hot.

Craft Gourmet Bakery is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Catering and special order information is available on their website and by telephone.

Craft Gourmet Bakery
5555 North Davis Hwy, Suite H
Pensacola, FL 32503
850-332-5921
craftgourmetbakery.com

Photography by Emily Veal