A savory cinnamon roll? This MS Coast bakery has more than ‘really good bread’

Southerners fell in love with soft white bread in the 1960s, and I count that as a great tragedy.

Slowly, slowly people are beginning to discover the glory of a good, crusty loaf of freshly baked bread again.

How much better a ham sandwich is when served in the French-style, jambon-beurre? It is simplicity at its best, a crusty baguette, good ham and butter. But what makes it so good is the bread, it has to have texture, crust and should be delicious in its own right. White bread just won’t get it.

Some years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting pastry chef Patti Kallinikos, and she is one of the best I have ever encountered. So, when I stopped by Serious Bread in Bay St. Louis the other day and found that Chef Kallinikos was now the head pastry chef there, I was delighted.

Good bread, really good bread, is not that easy to come by on the Coast. I can name just a hand full of locally bakeries, but Serious Bread is at the top of the list.

It’s a small shop, with just a few tables, but if you are interested in good bread, pastries, spreads, salads and sandwiches, this is the place to be.

You can get some of my favorite sandwiches here, chicken salad, pimento and cheese, ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, grilled cheese, veggie and chicken salad.

The chicken salad, hummus, pimiento cheese (regular, spicy and toasted pecan) and basil walnut pesto can be bought in the cooler, to take home to make your favorite sandwich. So, eve n though the shop is small, there is a lot of good things to choose from.

The toasted chicken salad with chips is one of the bestsellers. But I scored a delicious flatbread and paired it with pimento and cheese. When I got home, I toasted it under the broiler, like a Southern pizza.

What could be more delicious that an herb flavored flatbread, and gooey, hot and messy pimento and cheese snack?

Serious Bread sells at least nine kinds of bread, including western French, garlic rosemary and jalapeno cheese. There are also scones, muffins, cookies, shoe soles and cinnamon rolls.

While I was there, Chef Kallinikos was making Monte Cristo, a wonderful combination of ham, turkey and Swiss baked into sweet dough. If you have never tried this treat, you are in for a surprise.

Serious bread is serious about the quality of what comes out of their ovens. Everything is made from scratch. The sourdough breads are mixed and slowly fermented for eight to 12 hours and there are no shortcuts to good baking.

If you are serious about really good bread, this is the place for you.

Serious Breads can also be found at the farmers markets in Long Beach, Ocean Springs and the Stennis Space Center.

Serious Bread Bakery and Cafe

Where: 131 Main Street, Suite C, Bay St Louis

When: Tuesday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Phone: 228-231-1214 or https://www.facebook.com/seriousbreadbakery

This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 5:50 AM.