Walking into the Bigwood Bread and Café, the sweet aroma of freshly baked chocolate croissants, the yeasty smell of sourdough bread rising, and the faint background scent of roasted coffee fills my nose. Inside it is warm and welcoming, and the impressive assortment of baked goods on the counter are enough to entice anyone’s sweet tooth.
Bigwood Bread has been around for 15 years, and is well known by most local residents of the Valley. Located in the industrial part of Ketchum, at 270 Northwood Way, Bigwood Bread and Café is close, yet situated conveniently away from the rush of town.
Current owners and managers, Carly and Bryan Tempest, re-opened the café three and a half years ago. The café is positioned in front of the bakery and from behind the counter, customers can peep workers placing trays of rising bread into large ovens. The café is small and cozy; customers order from the counter, and then can either take items to go, or eat at one of the round, high top tables that border the interior of the café.
Carly Tempest is bright and welcoming, and is helping customers from behind the counter when I come in to talk to her. She is excited to discuss Bigwood Bread and Café, and enthusiastically rattles off information as I ask her questions. What makes Bigwood Bread and Café unique to the Valley, says Carly, is the variety of organic breads, different menu options, and consistency of the product.
“Many of the same workers have been here for years,” Carly explains. “We have a very loyal customer base, and we expect to see anyone from 18 to 98 come in.” Although the majority of regular customers are local, Tempest says that they also see a lot of second-home owners and tourists during the summer and winter seasons.
Bigwood Bread and Café uses as many organic and local ingredients as possible. Specifically, their flour, sugar, breads and granola are 100% organic. All bakery items are handmade fresh daily, and the time and dedication put into this process is evident in the delicious finalized products.
The Tempests also own The Bagel Place, in the Hailey industrial park, and they are therefore able to provide fresh bagels daily at the café. Some of the café’s most popular menu items include their homemade Meatloaf, Roast Turkey and Ham Club, and BBQ Chicken sandwiches, their Spicy Bagel Sandwich (consisting of 2 fluffy steamed eggs, tomatoes, jalapenos and Swiss cheese with jalapeno spread on toasted Bigwood Bagel of choice, yum!), and of course their pastries. They have recently begun to make churros, a deep-fried Mexican pastry covered with cinnamon and sugar, which have been very popular with customers, Tempest says.
Bigwood Bread supplies organic bread to most local restaurants, as well as to all of the grocery stores in the Valley. They are also available in Boise, selling their product at three grocery stores and 12 restaurants. Bigwood Bread is also beginning to bring organic bread to local schools, starting last year with Hemingway Elementary. This coming year, they look forward to continuing to provide bread to other schools in the Valley.
Looking towards the future, Bigwood Bread is hoping to expand. “We are starting to grow out of the bakery,” Carly explains, “and there has been a large demand for a location in Hailey." The Tempests actually own a piece of land in Hailey where they plan to open a second café. And while opening another café in the south Valley is number one on their list for the future, Tempest reassures that they will always keep their original Ketchum location.
With all of their menu items well under $10, Bigwood Bread and Café provides the ideal early morning spot to fuel up before a day of work, or a relaxing late afternoon setting for a cup of soup, crisp salad or homemade sandwich. Personally, it is one of my favorite places to meet a friend for coffee and a pastry anytime of the day. With it’s warm atmosphere, friendly staff, and delectable menu, you’ll be sure to leave satisfied!
Be sure to stop by Bigwood Bread and Café, open Monday-Friday from 8am -2pm. The bakery and café can be reached at 208-726-2035, and specific information about their organic breads can be found on their website.
