305 Alcazar Ave. 305/446-2111
Coral Gables
9100 SW 136th St. 305/278-3383
Miami The Falls
260 Crandon Blvd. 305/365-0800
Key Biscayne The Square
1080 Alton Road 305/535-1008
Miami Beach
5888 Sunset Drive 305/667-9333
South Miami
2200 W. Glades Road 561/447-8688
Boca Raton Glades Plaza
Biga is the little mother, the natural starter that makes bread rise before it's committed to the hearth floor of the imported French oven by internationally trained bakers using only unbleached, unbromated flours, filtered water and sea salt to make French ficelle, crustier and chewier than the standard baguette. Other loaves feature rosemary-reggiano, stoneground whole wheat, olive-walnut and, the newest, the masterful mixtures of Swiss-inspired Muesli. Limited cafe seating and sandwiches, great cookies for later.
The Bread Basket
1161 N.E. 45th (Floranada) St. 954/938-9734
Fort Lauderdale
8307 W. Atlantic Blvd. 954/755-7712
Coral Springs
Jim and Beverly Mullen are the pure natural goodness bakers of such pleasures as oversize oatmeal cookies, 10-grain bread and cashew-raisin-walnut bread, perfect for morning toast with a smear of cream cheese.
C'est La Vie
1553 Main St. 941/906-9575
Sarasota
Ever since Parisian partners Chris Coutelle and Thierry Riahi established this beautiful bread beachhead in December, it's been the place to pick up the best croissants in the state and a morning baguette, one of a dozen freshly baked loaves ? those with bacon, onion or walnut are my favorites.
Croissan'Time French Bakery
1201 N. Federal Highway 954/565-8555
Fort Lauderdale
Casual storefront cafe with a take-out, eat-in counter of specialty breads and rolls plus excellent eclairs and Napoleons worthy of the emperor himself. Also on the menu are freshly assembled sandwiches, homemade ice cream and miniature animal-shaped chocolates.
German Bread House
311 E. Commercial Blvd. 954/491-4464
Fort Lauderdale
"Gott sei dank!" for Dieter Dauer from Cologne. A pioneer in full grain, additive-free organic flour power, he works in a Hansel and Gretel stage setting making marvelous muffins and is a major supplier to local health food stores.
Giorgio's Bakery & Market
800 N. Ocean Drive (A1A) 954/929-5550
Hollywood Beach
The third and final phase of Giorgio Bakatsias and Peter Tsialiamanis' $6 million culinary complex on the Intracoastal, open daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and featuring, in addition to a full bakery, sandwiches, pizza, smoked fish, homemade ice creams, coffees, wines and beers at moderate prices commensurate with the competition.
Gran Forno Italian Bakery
1235 East Las Olas Blvd. 954/467-2244
Fort Lauderdale
The perfect Italian bakery for the street of great eats, supplying top restaurants and the cognoscenti who appreciate fabulous foccaccia, artful tarts and terrific tiramisu.
Lucarella's
4165 N. Dixie Highway 954/630-8855
Fort Lauderdale
Strip mall storefront where Robert Squadrito bakes authentic Brooklyn-Italian hard crust breads and special occasion pastries, assembles subs, pizzas and calzones, and sells pasta by the pound for take-out.
Max's Bakery
7132 Beracasa Way 561/368-6112
Boca Raton DelMar Shopping Center
Central bakery for all 16 links in the Boca Raton-based Unique Restaurant group covering south Florida up to Orlando. If you want to be surrounded by hundreds of loaves while watching bakers go through the paces, drop in and buy some of Max's rustic treats baked in a four-ton French oven.
Old School Bread Company
105 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/276-0013
Delray Beach
Traditional old country bakery and sidewalk cafe setting serving "Pacific Coast-inspired cuisine with Atlantic Ocean breezes," which translates as sourdough whole wheat and loaves of anise-fig, apricot-hazelnut, honey-oatmeal, rosemary-reggiano and other exemplary exotica.
Sarasota Bread Company
208 Southgate Plaza 941/957-3200
Sarasota
Chef Paul Mattison, of Sarasota's Coasters at the Southbridge and Siesta Key's Summerhouse Restaurant, is the force behind this trendy bakery-cafe-wine shop that opened in March and features "Chef to Go" take-outs, on-site made-to-order salads and sandwiches, artisan breads and impossible-to-resist cookies and pastries.
Tony's Off Third
1300 Third Street South 941/262-7999
Naples
Owners Sukie Honeycutt, Tony Ridgway and Beirne Brown added this delight to the splashy Terra Restaurant next door, replacing the popular Truffles bakery take-out counter. Select your own breads and rolls for stacking sandwiches, pick up a salad and something sweet and sinful, and sit out on the sidewalk to watch Olde Naples pass by.
Soon another bakery-cafe will make this list: The overachievers of Michael's on East in Sarasota are adding ovens and completely renovating their Morton's Market.