Review of Sage Bakehouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sage Bakehouse has been in business since 1996. Nearly every restaurant I've worked at since the Bakehouse opened has used Sage's signature pane pasano, crusty farm loaf or addictive olive breads to fill their gratis baskets. At the turn of the century the demand for the company's breads required a substantial expansion into the space next door. Sage carries the work ethic and recipe styles of Old World bakehouse, providing the entire community with its edibles while giving the townsfolk a place to reconnect, refuel, and catch up. For career diners and staffers at Santa Fe restaurants, the taste, look, and texture of Sages breads are unmistakable. With the expansion came a more varied dine-in and takeout menu that includes quiches, cold sandwiches, pastries, cookies artisanal breads, and an array of hot and cold beverages.

The mini-quiches reheat well, and the Lorraine version with Black Forest ham, Gruyere cheese is excellent. Unlike most quiche crusts around town, Sage's version remains fresh and moist even after a quick blast in the (gasp!) microwave. The egg custard remains as light as a soufflé, and the other ingredients are layered evenly. The sandwiches are premade throughout the day, which speeds up service at the busy counter. The roasted bell-pepper sandwich with goat cheese, Roma tomatoes, and basil on kalamata-olive bread is a vegetarian lunch worth repeating over and over, especially at the height of our short tomato season. I also love the blueberry muffins at Sage, which come in large and small sizes for convenience. They're not too sweet, and the berry-to-muffin ratio is particularly generous for the price. The currant scones come highly recommended, so I took one to go with a few lattes for the office. Crumbly, sweet, and lightly spotted with plump currants, these scones rival any I've had at "European"- style bakeries in town. Coffee service can get clogged during the morning and noon rush, but the wait is worth it.

Very few cafés remember to offer lower-fat or non dairy options for coffee drinks - and to have it offered verbally is a nice change from having to read choices off a messy chalkboard. Sage Bakehouse's patio is small, and its place on Cerrillos Road may seem a bit unromantic. However, some of the best people-watching can be done from one of the cafe's outdoor tables. Sage Bakehouse is 535-C Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe, 820-7243. They are opened early, from7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; they are closed Sundays.