Your dinner party deserves fresh bread. Here’s where to find it in Charlotte.
It’s the season of dinner parties, and that’s when your bread game matters most.
When I think about breaking bread with friends and family during these months, I’m reminded of something Charlotte baker Manolo Betancur said in an interview about Higher Grounds by Manolo’s. “Making a piece of bread is a connection with life … bread is what connects all of the cultures and religions around the world. So, of course, we are going to have bread.”
He’s right. We’re going to have bread. As a dinner party host, bread is a timeless crowd-pleaser. As a dinner party guest, bread is a practical, welcome offering.
I had this in mind when I hosted my first Friendsgiving when I moved to Charlotte two years ago. Last minute, I found myself running around to try and track down fresh bread in the city. I didn’t want an old, wimpy plastic-wrapped loaf from the grocery store. I wanted something that would impress my new friends. Something with a sturdy, crackly crust and a soft, spongy center.
I just couldn’t find the sourdough or baguette of my dreams.
Lula Banh Mi and Bakery
Location: 10400 Centrum Pkwy Ste A, Pineville, NC 28134
Locally-owned and family-run Lula Banh Mi opened its Pineville location in 2022, and each day since, has been baking fresh bread in house every day. The options here are narrow, but for good reason. The singular plain baguette (bánh mì không) is the one bread purchase guests can make here.
It’s the classic bread for a banh mi sandwich. The nearly 10 inch baguette is a Vietnamese-style bread with French influence — crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.
While great with sandwiches, it’s super versatile and can be enjoyed for breakfast, as well.
How to get it: Buyers can walk-up and purchase the baguette at an affordable $2.50 each. If large batches are needed, guests can call in advance at (980) 428-9501 for same-day pickup.
Manolo’s Bakery
Location: 4405 Central Ave Suite C, Charlotte NC 28205
Manolo Betancur is more than a baker; he is a social justice activist who dedicates both time and money to local and global aid. While his bakery on Central Avenue is chock full of Latin sweet treats, Manolo’s fresh-baked Colombian bread and Pan de Muerto are must-trys.
According to Manolo’s website, the Pan de Muerto is “a traditional Mexican bread enjoyed during Día de Muertos. Soft and fluffy, it has a subtly sweet flavor with hints of orange and anise … it can be enjoyed plain or filled with creamy flavors like Nutella, strawberry, or caramel.”
How to get it: Guests can place orders online or via phone at (704) 568 2120. The team needs at least 2 hours to prepare the order.
Pizza Baby
Location: Pizza Baby East, 1601 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
Location: Pizza Baby West, 2135 Thrift Rd #101, Charlotte, NC 28208
Chef Trey Wilson and Steven De Falco’s pizza joint is rooted in bread baking. It’s serious work; they took classes in New York, have invited French bakers into the kitchen and have experimented with a whopping 29 dough recipes.
Over at Pizza Baby East and West, guests enjoy fresh, hearth-baked bread from naturally fermented dough. Large Americana-style pies can be found at Pizza Baby West and by-the-slice Roman-style pizzas are at Pizza Baby East, where bread can be picked-up to take home. During bread pickup, if you happen to have time for a quick rectangular Roman slice with a glass of natural red wine, I’d say go for it.
Pizza Baby’s standard loaves include a spelt sourdough and “many many forms of Roman Focaccia — buns, loaves, and our signature, 2.5-foot pizza Bianca alla Romana,” according to De Falco. Their bread can be found in sandwiches across Charlotte, from Not Just Coffee to Reid’s Fine Foods.
How to get it: Pick up and pre-orders are available by contacting Pizza Baby East at (980) 252-7071 or emailing pizza@acfoodgroup.com. Most days, loaves are available for walk-up purchase. Bread is available for wholesale, as well. Loaves available for retail at The Bradford Market in Huntersville.
Team Rose Bread
Location: Online
Team Rose Bread bakes bread in a carport-turned-bread shop. Kaitlin and Douglas Rose, along with their four kids, are the family members that make up Team Rose Bread.
Combining wild yeast, water, and ancient grains from Local Mills in the Carolinas, this team churns out 100% naturally leavened, artisanal breads, from spelt, rye, challah and cinnamon rolls. The family offers many seasonal rotating loaves for pick-up each week -- sesame sourdough, an apple oat and spelt round, or even a salty caramel brioche. Of course, the classic sourdough is, well, classic.
Locals know this crew whips up top-notch sourdough pizza dough and hidden-gem bagels in town, as well.
How to get It: Team Rose Bread offers local pick-up options via online ordering, pick-up at the Matthews Farmers Market on Saturdays, and limited local deliveries on Tuesday and Fridays.
Verdant Bread
Location: 4410-C Monroe Rd, Charlotte NC 28205
Verdant Bread is no under-the-radar bakery anymore. It’s the go-to bread source for many local restaurants, but also for home kitchens, too. It hasthe classic table loaves — country loaves, sourdough baguettes, whole wheat pullman loaves. But team members also have a lot of fun in this bakery and whip up many creative, playful bites like a peppercorn miso spelt and rye loaf, morning buns and chocolate croissants.
You can find Verdant Bread at its tucked-away, walk-up bakery in Oakhurst or at several area farmers markets.
How to get it: Pre-order by 5 p.m. the day before pick-up. Walk-ups are always welcome at the bakery. Order online or call (980) 833-1131 for more information on what loaves are in stock. Verdant also offers a $30 a month subscription service at one loaf a week.
Virtuoso Breadworks
Location: 205 Salem St, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Virtuoso Breadworks down in Waxhaw is a hidden-gem for fresh bread. Pre-order and pick-up is encouraged if you’re looking to grab a loaf, but I recommend sitting and staying a while and enjoying both the savory and sweet treats with a cup of Enderly Coffee in the quaint house.
The team, led by Lauren and Ben Kallenbach, runs signature offerings and several rotating specials each week. For the savory breads, the signature “WXW” sourdough is a “clean, crusty bread made solely with starter, flour, and water,” according to the website. Then there’s this same sourdough stuffed with sharp Irish cheddar. There’s focaccia, an Italian loaf and classic white bread, using sourdough, sour cream and butter.
Other various specials have included: sorghum honey butter biscuit, the basil pesto focaccia, classic almond croissants (my personal favorite), and a fried green tomato danish.
How to get it: Pop-in and grab a loaf at their cafe in Waxhaw. For small orders, call ahead at 704-256-3753. Same day orders will be based on availability. For large pre-orders, email getbread@virtuosobreadworks.com with your order requests, allowing up to 48 hours for fulfillment.
This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
