Baker & Barista - Review - Buena Vista - Miami - The Infatuation
"At the very literally named Baker and Barista, you will be served by a baker and a barista, who are both excellent at their jobs. The coffee here skews Italian—cappuccino and shakerato—and is great. But the baked goods are why you're coming. If you see the sourdough cinnamon roll, point to it like you just found Waldo on a particularly difficult page. Come early for that and the sweet apple galette. Or, if you'd rather eat lunch, arrive closer to noon when the schiacciata sandwiches, savory focaccia, and thick slices of pizza occupy the counter. Just don’t plan on working at the small cafe. There’s no wifi, and the food’s too good to concentrate on anything else anyway. Food Rundown photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Sourdough Cinnamon Roll An important rule: don't take this to go. Eat it there, and let them warm it up for you. You just won't do as good a job as them, and this tangy cinnamon roll deserves the attention and care of professionals. video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Maritozzi Think of this morning special as a sort of Italian Twinkie or a dessert hot dog. It’s a classic rendition of the Roman pastry: a sliced-open soft brioche bun stuffed with whipped cream sticky and thick enough to make it look like you’re about to shave your cheeks. If you see it available, order one. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Pizza This is the kind of simple, minimal pizza that really lets the dough shine. And what a dough it is: light and airy inside, but with enough structure and crunch to remain stiff when you lift it with one hand. Sometimes you’ll find a big Roman-style slab of margherita. Other times they have a few Sicilian sfincione options. Both come out of the oven around noon, so time your trip accordingly. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Croissants Croissant purists and sweet croissant lovers can coexist here. Baker & Barista’s plain croissant has a crisp yet fragile exterior, and inner air pockets you could live in one if you ever found yourself shrunken to the size of a pea. Over on the sweeter side of the spectrum, they make almond and pistachio croissants that aren’t so buried with sugar that you can’t tell there’s a croissant underneath it. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Rotating Sandwiches The highlight of the sandwiches (which rotate daily and usually come out around 11:30am) is the schiacciata bread it’s stuffed into. It’s sort of a thinner version of focaccia, which Baker & Barista prys open like an envelope to stuff with simple combinations of ham, mortadella, turkey, or whatever else they feel like making that day." - Ryan Pfeffer
