Avalon International Breads in Detroit

Last Wednesday, my mother, sister and I spent the morning exploring the D.I.A., catching a glimpse of Patti Smith's Camera Solo exhibition, as well as the Five Spanish Masterpieces exhibition before they leave the museum's collection. After working up an appetite from wandering around the huge museum, we decided to head over to Avalon International Breads, located on W. Willis in Cass Corridor. Avalon claims to have a Triple Bottom Line: Earth, Community, and Employees. They are committed to use "organic ingredients when possible, local ingredients whenever feasible, and environmentally friendly practices at every opportunity." Also, they hope to assist in making a "healthier, more vibrant Detroit" and offer employees "fair wages, good benefits and an environment that encourages growth." In addition to all of this, Avalon sells a variety of vegan sandwiches, breads made of 100% organic flour, and other yummy baked goods.

The outside of Avalon looked as sunny and friendly as the inside. It sat at the end of a little strip mall covered in pumpkin colored brick, which also held a health food store and a clothing boutique. In front of Avalon was a sprinkling of metal patio tables with umbrellas, a few of them occupied. The Avalon logo, a sun with what appear to be wheat stalks for rays, hovered above the double doors, sweetly attracting anyone who happened to walk by. And inside was a picturesque cafe. Colorful, handwritten menus hung from the ceiling, above the long counter, which held shelves full of tempting cookies, muffins, scones, and other different handmade sweets. Behind the counter were racks holding a variety of aromatic loaves of bread: sourdough, ciabatta, baguettes, and more. There were a few charming, mismatched tables placed against the walls, as well as a fridge holding drinks and "Grab and Go" sandwiches. The whole bakery smelled deliciously like coffee beans and warm sugary goodies. We grabbed a few sandwiches, some sweets to share, water bottles, a coffee and headed outside to sit in the sun.

I picked out a Gardenworks sandwich, which had "avocado, house-made basil walnut pesto, roasted red peppers, and Michigan-grown organic sunflower sprouts on Motown Mutligrain." The bread tasted fresh, though it had been sitting in the fridge probably since early morning. It was pleasantly chewy, aside from the hard crusts, textured by the seeds interspersed in the softness. The salty, basil pesto combined perfectly with the fatty slices of avocado, creating a somewhat messy, but tasty mix. A few of the sunflower sprouts added a surprising fresh, sweetness, with a bit of a crunch. And pieces of the red pepper made an occasional spicy bite. The sandwich had an overall earthy taste to it, but it was scrumptious and filling. My mother and sister loved their Tiger Time Turkey and Roma sandwiches, as well.

The vegan sweets we grabbed were Monkey Bread, a Date Bar, and a simple Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. The Monkey bread was similar to a cinnamon bun, with gooey icing on top of a chunk of dough scattered with raisins. But, it was a tad too doughy, under cooked in fact. The top half of it was indeed delicious, but the bottom half was inedibly raw. The piece of the Date Bar I ate, however, was perfect. Pureed dates, raisins, and cinnamon formed the inside of this tasty, gummy slab, crusted with oats. We all gobbled it up. And the cookie was a very good oatmeal cookie, sweet and chewy and crunchy in all of the right places. Though the Monkey Bread wasn't baked all the way through, I was overall pleased with the quality of the vegan baked goods.

What I most enjoyed about Avalon International Breads was the evident sense of community they project. The focus they place on rejuvenating their section of Cass Corridor and their commitment to environmentally friendly practices were especially admirable. It's good to know that Avalon serves their neighborhood so well, through offering wholesome foods, bike delivery services, and a friendly place to just hang out. I look forward to giving their other vegan sandwiches a try, as well as more of their sweets. I would recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a quick sandwich or is in need of a sugary snack fix, vegans and non-vegans included.

Avalon International Breads - 4 out of 5 stars