When Starter Bakery introduced its signature kouign-amann at Oakland’s Pop-Up General Store in 2010, the unique French delicacy proved so popular that a business was born. Driver’s is proud to be on Starter’s regular delivery route, featuring a selection of fresh handcrafted edibles daily.
Starter’s award-winning specialty, pronounced kween a-mon, is an indulgent French pastry that is similar to a croissant—-but so much more. The rich treat is made by rolling out and folding together layers upon layers of dough with salted butter and sugar, then baking it in a butter-and-sugar-lined pan, resulting in an incredibly rich, sweet-and-salty experience.
Owner-manager Brian Wood has spent the last 15 years honing his baking skills around the globe. He has been a chocolatier in Seattle, developed the pastry program at the San Francisco Baking Institute and also taught at the school, wrote and managed the production of the indispensable text book Baking and Pastry: A Professional Approach, developed products at an R&D lab for a bakery with national distribution, and consulted at some of the top bakeries in the country. When he’s not donning an apron he can be dining out, checking out some live music, enjoying the city’s farmers’ markets, or exploring with Scooter, his wire fox terrier.
Every ingredient at Starter is carefully considered and deemed more than worthy to be an integral part of its products. All of its flours and grains are organic. The only fats used are butter, non-GMO canola oil and organic olive oil; Starter never uses shortening.