Corner Bakery Cafe-revisits (Mission Valley)

Here you are, at the food blog named mmm-yoso!!! Today's quick post is written by Cathy.

During the pre-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas hustle and bustle of the vehicles carrying groups of people shopping at local malls, The Mister and I tried to get to places as they opened, or during weekday 'lulls' in foot traffic.  We found that, just as before shopping in grocery stores, a quick meal before walking about was helpful in keeping to our planned excursions.  On the ring road of Mission Valley Mall, on the spot where the Montgomery Ward Tire Center had been located, is Corner Bakery Cafe, a franchise which began on a corner, in Chicago, in 1991. There are now 184 locations in 19 States and the District of Columbia.The business model is similar to Panera in that you walk up, order, pay and your meal is brought to you, there is free wi-fi and the menu includes freshly baked goods, both sweet and savory with breakfast and lunch/dinner choices. Opening at 7 a.m. on weekdays, it's the perfect spot for breakfast before mall stores open.  There is a good selection of coffees. This is a made to order 'Anaheim Scrambler' ($7.79) Freshly scrambled eggs mixed with applewood smoked bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese (and also green onion, which we asked not be mixed in) and topped with avocado slices.  This is served with breakfast potatoes (or fresh fruit) and "Mom's Harvest" toast- grainy and seedy and tasty. Above is my favorite breakfast item, because it is unique to CBC.  Swiss oatmeal ($4.49) -muesli- raw rolled oats, mixed with dried (raisins and cranberries) and fresh (apples and bananas) fruit and yogurt.  Yes, a cold cereal breakfast.  It's far more interesting than hot oatmeal and I enjoy it for breakfast. On the side there is a sweet crisp, sort of a thin biscotti made with dried fruit and topped with sugar crystals.One of my usual meals (here and everywhere) is a bowl of chili ($6).  The version made here is excellent- two types of beans, ground beef, tomatoes, onions and mild peppers along with a great chili spice blend which is slightly sweet.  It's served with a piece of fresh sourdough. 

A fallback menu item we order is the Trio ($7.49) (which is really four salads, because a small order of field greens salad is always included). This day, the choices were: 1) tuna salad (which is tuna, red and green bell peppers, green onion and mayonnaise with some Dijon mustard and basil) 2) D.C chicken salad (chicken, green apples, currants, redonion, celery, mayonnaise and toasted almonds) 3) the new toasted sesame kale salad (fresh kale, shredded carrots and toasted sesame seeds with a ginger soy dressing).  Each salad is so refreshing, perfectly dressed and bright tasting.

The year has been filled with mainly local places and a few franchises for meals out. We have had more meals at home than out, which I haven't posted about.  It's been fun to share and so nice to see the good wishes to all of us here. Enjoy this final weekend of 2014!

Corner Bakery Cafe Camino de la Reina (SE corner, at Mission Center Drive) (619) 692-0423 Website

 

Comments

[caninecologne]

It's nice to be out without the crowds. I think Bert would like that cold cereal you had especially with the green apples

[Nhbilly]

I like Corner Bakery, especially their sandwiches. Interesting cold cereal.

[Cathy]

Muesli is a favorite, cc. In the summer, it has strawberries and other seasonal berries. I can't wait for this season to be over and things going back to 'normal', whatever that is...

Corner Bakery is a nice place for some good food, Bill. The breads here are really good. I've not seen many people mention or have muesli on a menu, and it's a fairly common cereal in other parts the world.