The owners of one of our favorite restaurants in New Jersey, Arturo’s Osteria in Maplewood, just opened a new cafe and bakery in Maplewood called The Bread Stand. It opened right around the time I had Nora. Thankfully the temperatures warmed up enough over the last week so that Nora and I could venture out to try it.
The Bread Stand is located on the outskirts of Maplewood, not in the center of town. While they don’t have a parking lot, I was able to find street parking easily. They do have a BEAUTIFUL mural painted alongside their building and colorful outdoor seating. When I walked in, there were a few people eating lunch and drinking coffee. It had a nice, relaxed atmosphere. I was immediately hit with the smell of fresh bread. The smell was INTOXICATING.
I surveyed all of the options and decided to order their avocado, arugula, cheddar, and garlic aioli sandwich, a decaf americano, and a sweet cream and cherry danish. ALL OF THE CARBS. Nora slept quietly while I inhaled everything.
My sandwich was delicious. I loved the sharp Vermont cheddar paired with the peppery arugula and creamy avocado. The garlic aioli added a nice bite. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was perfection. My coffee hit the spot as well. It didn’t even need cream and/or sugar. I finished my meal with the sweet cream and cherry danish. The tartness of the cherry really complemented the cream filling. The danish was buttery and flakey. It was everything you want from a danish. When I was done, I left with a full belly and a relaxed mind.
I will definitely be going back sometime soon. Next time, I am going to bring E and Nathan!
The Bread Stand, 419 Boyden Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040
