Bossie’s Kitchen

Today I rode my bike to Bossie’s Kitchen and had the best BLT I have ever, ever had. This sandwich bested one I had considered the ultimate, which I enjoyed years ago at Model Bakery. Naturally, I did try a variety of Bossie’s renown donuts since this is a bakery blog after all. I also sampled some cookies as I am serious about my work. 

My bike ride was a short one, because I am temporarily living in downtown Santa Barbara. All I needed to do was zip down Micheltorena Street, and then zig zag my way to Milpas Street. The only flaw in my lunchtime plan was not knowing the schedule at nearby Santa Barbara High School. I quickly learned that Bossie’s donut reputation was bolstered by student fans. 

Today the line behind me was growing, and the students seemed impatient: One young woman behind me huffed, “Are you still deciding, or what?” Since I had been a teacher and spent years working in a junior high school library, I knew the school lunch break was brief. Luckily for the students, I had studied the menu online before I arrived at Bossie’s though I was vacillating between ordering the BLT and the shaved ham and cheese sandwich (featuring butter!). Fortunately, the amiable cashier had a strong opinion on my sandwich choices, and told me to go for the BLT. 

It was the donut selection that really had me hesitating. Any local knows that the donuts appear at noon, and there is no ordering ahead of time. Because it was 11:45 and they were not yet on view, I did not know which one/s to order. This is where the cashier saved the day yet again. He suggested the pumpkin donut, and told me (very quietly) that he would set one aside for me. 

Once I settled at my table, I took in the scene on Bossie’s quaint patio: students surrounded me. Some were on their phones; some were excitedly chatting with their friends; and others had brought food or drinks from home or other establishments and sat with their donut-eating peers. Bringing outdoor food seemed very uncool, but none of Bossie’s employees appeared bothered. Perhaps I am old-fashioned.

I gasped when my sandwich arrived as it was rather huge. It was also stunning with its toasted sourdough bread, deep red tomato, pert lettuce, and generous slices of bacon. At first I thought I’d just eat half and take the rest home. But I was very hungry, and I figured the bread might get soggy, and the lettuce might wilt if I brought it home. So I took my time, savoring each perfect bite. 

Getting up from the table after finishing the sandwich required some effort. I was stuffed! However, that pumpkin donut was waiting for me, and I ordered a couple of other ones to try (much) later. They were all remarkable. I think the pumpkin cake donut was my favorite, with its warm spices, dusting of sugar and cute donut hole on top. The two cruller-style donuts were light but also kind of oily in a non-greasy sort of way. I loved the the brown butter vanilla one and my husband preferred the pistachio cruller, with its pretty light olive green glaze.

Another visit to Bossie’s did not involve a bike. On my way home one day, I took a detour and ended up at Bossie’s. I had been thinking about what I was going to prepare for dinner, and knew it would involve a lot of vegetables. I figured a sweet from Bossie’s would balance out the meal. Deciding what to get was challenging. I had tried the chocolate layered cake, filled with caramel and a light chocolate buttercream frosting before and it was delectable, but the bars were also alluring. In the end, however, cookies won out. 

The first cookie I had later that night was molasses. It was soft and tasted of, obviously, molasses, but also of brown sugar, butter, and a touch of ginger. The light drizzle of citrus glaze on top was a nice touch that did not overwhelm.  I could not imagine what could have equaled the delight I took in this cookie until I ate the second one. This strawberry thumbprint cookie was crumbly and reminded me of shortbread.  I liked the sugar clinging to its surface as well as the cardamom flavor.  The jam tasted like the first sweet strawberries of spring. These two cookies, along with a cup of herbal tea, were the ideal conclusion to my evening.

Later I reflected on how sometimes a cookie is just the right thing. A cookie does not have the heft of a slice of pie or cake, so it won’t ruin an appetite between meals or lead to an uncomfortable, too-full feeling after a meal. A cookie is also the ideal sweet in the afternoon with a cup of coffee or tea. Even when I can no longer get to Bossie’s in five minutes, I will return to savor a sublime meal and an outstanding sweet.