Our Daily Bread Moves to Uptown Santa Barbara
Original Bread Shop Opens on New De la Vina Restaurant Row

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Laurie Zalk, Owner-Partner

Thirty-one years ago Laurie Zalk and Ze'ev Zalk became partners in what turned into one of the most popular meeting places for local Santa Barbara residents. The small venue always smelled of the delicious fresh breads Ze'ev was baking, and became a favorite place for a quick business lunch, as well as a breakfast and coffee haunt for Farmer's Market shoppers each Saturday morning.

Ze'ev was born in Israel, and wanted to bake fine breads, Laurie was a jack of all trades who managed to successfully keep all the business balls in the air, and although they loved their old location on Santa Barbara Street, around the corner from Sojourner Café, they needed room to expand and decided to join so many other restaurateurs who were opening venues on upper De la Vina Street. Their bright orange umbrella's and chairs adorn the corner where Mimosa once served French specialties, and Laurie says their old customers have followed them, but they are very pleased with the many new customers they have gained from the surrounding neighborhood.

Bread cases

The scent of fresh baked breads, including gluten free breads and desserts, is still the first thing you are aware of when you enter Our Daily Bread, and the sparkling food cases feature the fine assortment of cakes, rolls and dessert items they offer. The menu has been lovingly created with good health being paramount, and features vegan and gluten free selections that are so delicious and beautifully presented.
Breakfast includes waffles, French toast, lemon-blueberry hotcakes, egg burritos, omelets and more; all served with bread, butter and jam. The also offer a beautiful smoked salmon or vegetarian Benedict that can be savored with a bloody Mary, Margarita or peach bellini. Fruit smoothies, pastries and rich coffee all make for a 'good morning' at the indoor-outdoor café.

Kale Salad

At lunch time the place is packed, with outside tables full and people milling around waiting for to go items. If you have a preference for Panini's made with either focaccia, ciabatta, multi-grain or sourdough you're in luck. Pastrami or turkey pastrami on rye with house slaw is also very popular with the lunch crowd, and the grilled fish tacos with cilantro aioli, pico de gallo, cabbage, lettuce and cheese will keep you coming back for more. Salads are also very special at ODB, featuring the freshest produce with delicious home-made dressing and large portions. I found the marinated kale with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, roasted hazelnuts and aged jack cheese to be the best I've had yet. According to Laurie "kale must be marinated properly or it is just too tough to enjoy eating, and we have perfected a method for this," she said.

Spinach-potato soup

Soups are also pure and delicious. The spinach and potato soup has large chunks of potato blended with the spinach and onions and served with fresh bread. Burgers include quinoa, veggie and turkey with all the trimmings. They also do a tri tip torta with grilled onion, pico de gallo and provolone that is sensational.

Gluten free carrot muffin
It is a bakery, so desserts are endless, and are also available in gluten free options. The marzipan cake is so light and is made with almond flour, and the carrot cupcake is filled with fresh raisins and carrot and is moist in the middle and crunchy on the outside. delicious!

805 Beer

If you just want small bites try one of many small plate salads or the cheese platter with 3 cheeses, dried apricots, dried cranberries, candied pecans and assorted breads. This pairs nicely with glass of wine from one of our local wineries or a cold beer by Stella Artois, 805 or Total Domination.

ODB supports "Share Our Strength" a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its 'No Kid Hungry' campaign "Share Our Strength" ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy affordable meals; and builds public private partnerships to end childhood hunger at the state and city level.

Our Daily Bread
2700 De la Vina Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-966-3894

By Bonnie Carroll