Faith isn’t a prerequisite to stop in for coffee and pastries at Redwood Gospel Mission Baking Co. — but you might just leave praising the holy trinity of flour, butter and sugar.
The North Bay nonprofit opened its new coffeehouse and bakery Tuesday, April 14, offering housemade croissants, kouign-amann, scones, sandwiches, salads and espresso drinks. The venture also serves as a culinary training program and pathway toward future employment for people in the gospel mission’s residential programs.
Tucked into a quiet medical park that houses the mission’s Family Campus, the cafe is a bright, cozy space with a large redwood community table and plenty of room to sip a morning coffee while checking emails or contemplating a warm chocolate chip cookie.
“We want to see transformation in the lives of our students and measurable impact on the community,” said Paul Haddorff, the mission’s director of food services…