Faith isn’t a prerequisite to stop in for coffee and pastries at Redwood Gospel Mission Baking Co. — but you might just leave praising the holy trinity of flour, butter and sugar.
The North Bay nonprofit opened its new coffeehouse and bakery Tuesday, April 14, offering housemade croissants, kouign-amann, scones, sandwiches, salads and espresso drinks. The venture also serves as a culinary training program and pathway toward future employment for people in the gospel mission’s residential programs.
Tucked into a quiet medical park that houses the mission’s Family Campus, the cafe is a bright, cozy space with a large redwood community table and plenty of room to sip a morning coffee while checking emails or contemplating a warm chocolate chip cookie.
“We want to see transformation in the lives of our students and measurable impact on the community,” said Paul Haddorff, the mission’s director of food services.
A graduate of Santa Rosa Junior College’s culinary program and a former fine-dining chef, Haddorff oversees the kitchen alongside Doug Cavaliere, a longtime bakery owner whose guidance has helped students produce glossy, well-laminated pastries, fresh breads for toast and sandwiches and a rotating selection of galettes.
Only days into its soft launch, the menu is impressively executed. There’s no shortage of butter in the croissants ($4.50 to $5.50), the glazed lemon scone is a favorite ($4.50), and the kouign-amann is caramelized and crisp with a soft center ($6.50). The avocado toast with goat cheese, pickled onion and hot honey ($6) is worth a return. Sandwiches come with greens, roasted potato salad or chips, making the half chicken caprese ($10) a deal.
Food service manager LaDonna Lane completed the Gospel Mission’s program more than 30 years ago and now helps guide participants through the same process.
“These women come through the program and get a job,” she said. “And hopefully they launch and do what they’re really good at.”
The Baking Co. is part of a growing network of social enterprises operated by Redwood Gospel Mission, which also includes a coffee roastery, a catering business and a thrift store. The organization provides shelter, meals, recovery programs, job training and spiritual support for people experiencing homelessness or seeking stability.
The cafe is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, with lunch service starting at 10:30 a.m. 2447 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, rgm.org