Macrina Bakery & Cafe

About the Business

Specialties

Breads at Macrina are inspired by traditional recipes and adapted to our bakery's environment. While always experimenting with ways to improve our baking, the basics never change. Bread is our passion, and we still form every loaf by hand. The baked goods are created from Northwest apples, potatoes, cranberries and hazelnuts as well as wheat, rye, barley and buckwheat flour. Macrina Casera, the house bread, was developed to be eaten at any meal, complementing all foods. Macrina Casera This bread is leavened Sour White Made with organic hard red winter wheat. Oatmeal Buttermilk Bread This pan baked loaf is perfect for sandwiches or toast and has a slightly sweet finish. Fresh Herb Baguette Enhanced with fresh herbs and extra virgin olive oil, topped with coarse sea salt. Great with seafood and salads. Ciabatta This "Italian slipper bread" is great for sandwiches or sliced for bruschetta. Brioche A classic French pan loaf enriched with butter.

History

Established in 1993.

The Belltown café is the original Macrina Bakery and Café. We opened with six employees, a French Bongard oven as our centerpiece, a stack of convection ovens, one mixer and an espresso machine, an antique display case and a lot of ambition. Right off the bat we offered a full line of artisan breads, ranging from full-flavored, naturally leavened sourdoughs to American favorites like our Rustic Potato loaf. The pastry section was limited to a few muffins, coffee cakes, and tarts. Our cozy bakery was soon bursting at the seams, and we took over an adjoining retail space in 1994, which became our café. Today, our line of breads, pastries, cakes, and savory selections is extensive.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

Leslie M.

Business Owner

Leslie was head baker at Seattle's Grand Central Bakery, then in 1993 opened her own place, Macrina. All of Seattle knows of Macrina's irresistible artisan breads. You can find your favorite at grocery stores and gourmet shops throughout the region - along with more than 100 restaurants in the Puget Sound Area. Macrina has been written up in Sunset and Pacific magazines, Bon Appetite, The LA Times and The New York Times, not to mention endless coverage and accolades in The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and Seattle Magazine. Leslie's recipes reach well beyond Seattle, from her appearances on Julia Child's "Baking with Julia" television series (and inclusion in the companion cookbook) to a 1999 outstanding contributor award from the James Beard Foundation. Leslie has also received several nominations for the "Outstanding Pastry Chef Award" from the James Beard Foundation, which honors food and beverage industry professionals in America for their achievements.