She has called on Sarah Black, above left, a first-rate bread baker who was in charge of Fairway's breads, to be her consultant.
Meals begin with first-rate country bread and a creamy spread of butter, herbed goat cheese and fresh ricotta.
There are also traditional tender Syracuse salt potatoes; marinated skewers called spiedies; and a first-rate pear bread that's more poundcake than bread.
The very first taste of Sogno - first-rate country bread with a creamy spread of butter, herbed goat cheese and ricotta fresca - is exceptional.
We figured we were in good hands with the arrival of the giveaway appetizer, sensuously moist cornbread laced with jalapeno peppers and black bean sauce, and a basket of first-rate Portuguese bread from Teixeira's Bakery in the Ironbound.
Quality was assessed as CO2 production rate, yeast viability, bread specific volume and bread crumb firmness relative to fresh dough.
The new chef, Jeremy McMillan, has the right bona fides (most recently as chef de cuisine at A Voce Columbus in Manhattan); the wine list is first rate; and the bread is from Balthazar.
If you're self-catering locally, you should also visit Unsworth Yard, where you will find Cartmel Cheeses (1 Unsworth Yard, 015395 32845) and first-rate bakery, the Bread Shed (2 Unsworth's Yard, 01539 533839).
Analyst Jason West slashed his rating on Panera Bread to "hold" from "buy".
I do know that the question of whether we reclaim self-determination or are happy to be, in fact, governed by unelected, extraneous powers which feel they can dictate what the VAT rate on milk and bread should be, is a question which concerns all of us.
I missed the sumptuous crabmeat served at the Washington branch, and I found the bread second-rate.
