— Best Bakery
Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe
The Basics
Opened: 1998
Neighborhood: Crescent Hill
Self-description: “Every loaf and pastry is crafted by hand using traditional European methods.”
Website: bluedogbakeryandcafe.com
Best of Louisville Stats
Total nominations: 12
Total wins: 4
First nomination: 1999, Best Bakery
First win: 2002, Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
Also won: 2008, Best Fresh-Baked Bread, Best Healthy Snack (for their granola)
The Voting Academy Says
“I crave their baguette.”
“The look and feel of a French cafe, with the awning and curbside tables and soul-replenishing food and pastries.”
“Blue Dog’s breakfast pizza is secretly the best pizza ever. But of course they make the best pizza — they make the best bread!”
We asked Blue Dog to share something that says something essential about them…
“This is one our bread lames, commonly referred to as a ‘bread scorer.’ This delicate tool scores the top of the bread before baking — to allow the bread to expand properly, to control the direction of the rise and to give the loaf a decorative look. A bakery’s score patterns are typically distinct to them, and Blue Dog is no exception.”
Scroll Credits
Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe
Todd Hancock
Head bread baker extraordinaire, been with Blue Dog since DAY ONE — starting in June 1998!
Ruthie Robuck
Head of pastry
Brittany Shah
Chef, refiner of menu, elevator of our artisan breads
Sunny Yarborough
Ever-smiling and kind front-of-house manager, SO beloved by our customers and her staff
Mike Feger
Mastermind behind our wide-reaching and (sometimes) complicated wholesale operation, delivering to nearly 65 locations in the city and beyond
Loyal and Local Restaurant and Retail Partners
Too many to list here. That they feature our products in their stores and on their tables is THE highest compliment!
Feed Louisville
Our partnership provides bread, pastries and other goods so that Feed Louisville can bring fresh meals to vulnerable communities. Easily one of the acts we are proudest of.