The Joy of Flour

Today, Kate shares a great local spot for sweet and savory treats, and a cookbook that will allow you to recreate tasty treats at home:

One of the many great things about living in the Boston area is getting to enjoy Joanne Chang's wonderful Flour Bakery + Cafe. Chang is a pastry chef and entrepreneur, and a devotee of all things baked and frosted and all-around yummy. Each of the three locations of Flour (Cambridge, Fort Point, the South End) is a happy haven in which to sit, relax, and enjoy a range of sandwiches, salads, and lots and lots of baked goods. Chang is committed to using real foods and fresh ingredients -- none of your pre-packaged, over-oily muffins and scones here -- and to helping people to learn how to bake well at home.
Monthly classes are offered at the Fort Point location on topics such as sticky buns, brioche, cupcakes, brownies, and working with puff pastry. Additionally, Chang recently released Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe, which offers recipes for many of the best treats available at the bakeries. I've already tried out the macaroons and the peanut butter cookies, and can vouch for both. Check out Joanne Chang and Flour for a tasty treat.

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Editor's Note: Kate and I met up for lunch at Flour while I was super pregnant. I basically wanted to eat about six of the grilled tofu and roasted vegetable sandwiches, and clearly need to visit again with Jon, Laurel, and Violet soon!