Pastry service counter at Educated Palate.
Educated Palate is a bakery operated by the students in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality program at San Francisco City College. It is only open on Thursdays, between 9:30 and 11:30 am, and by chance we were there on the final day of the semester.
Patrons are provided a paper menu to check off their choices, including sweet and savory pastries, a daily sandwich, and a baguette. You wait in line to submit your order and then wait another 20 minutes or so as it is assembled and finally you are called to submit your credit card and receive your goods. Prices are in general about half retail plus you are supporting the work of the next generation of bakers. The biggest bargain is the baguette, a full size loaf of around 13 inches for $1, limit one to a customer.
You place your order, then you wait.
So far I’ve tried the macarons (superb, especially a kiwi flavor with bits of kiwi inside), a comforting oatmeal cookie and plain and almond croissants. The croissants could use a little more loft in the lamination but were still the equal of most at better storefront bakeries. The chef/professor who was handing out pencils (to fill out the menu sheets) told me the program lasts two semesters and costs $1000 and most of the students find work after, or are promoted in the bakeries where they already work.
Today’s menu at Educated Palate.
Educated Palate is on the ground floor of the City College building at the very busy corner of Fourth and Mission. In better times a fine dining restaurant, also operated by students, occupied the space. A very quirky beat cop guards the main building and happily directed me to an upstairs restroom since the one in the bakery was, as seems to happen often, out of service. A real San Francisco treat.
Folks who live in the Capital District of upstate New York can access a similar experience at Pane e Dolci, a counter next to the Casola Dining Room at SCCC which is open during the fall and spring semesters on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 am.to 2:30 pm. Like Educated Palate, it’s well worth a visit and the baked goods are only part of the enjoyment.
My order from Educated Palate.
