A Savory Sampler @ Panera Bread September 9, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Bulletin Board, Food & Drink, Vegetarian Recipes.Tags: Avocado, Bagel, Panera, Panera Bread, Pico de Gallo, Vegetarian
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A few days ago, we received an invite to a series of cooking demonstrations at Panera Bread.
The price was right . . . FREE!
We attended the first yesterday, not knowing what to expect . . . Panera did not disappoint!
Elise prepared three “bread and spread” recipes while her helpers handed out generous samples to the audience:
(1) Avocado and Goat Cheese on French Baguette Crostini
BFF and I are not fans of avocados or guacamole.
We decided to be brave, like the Grouch in Green Eggs and Ham.
We took a tentative bite. Hmm . . .
I would not eat it in a box.
I would not eat it with a fox.
But the goat cheese, garlic, and olive oil masked the taste of the avocados . . . making the spread a bit easier for us to swallow.
(2) Bagel Chips with Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Like Greek tzatziki, this light refreshing spread of cucumbers, yogurt, sour cream, garlic and dill paired well with Panera’s crisp bagel chips, but was a tad too salty for our tastes.
Of course, if they’d been serving Margaritas or Sangria with the demo, that salt would have come in handy.
(3) Asiago Bread Chips with Pico de Gallo
Definitely the winner . . . even if Pico de Gallo does translate as Beak of the Rooster!
Served on a slice of toasted Asiago Cheese Bread, this sharp salsa of tomato, jalapeno, garlic, onion, cilantro, and cumin grabbed the attention of our tastebuds.
For Panera Recipes . . . click HERE.
Before leaving the tasting arena, we received generous portions of Pico de Gallo and Cucumber Dip to take home . . . causing us to head straight to the bakery to buy bagels and baguettes (hot~out~of~the~oven!) to go.
Yup . . . there’s a method to their marketing.
Demos still to come ~ Pizza Pizzazz and Bread Basics. Yum!
Aah . . . that’s better!
What a great idea for the bread store to do a demo like that. I love all three and with bread, am in heaven.
We’re BIG fans of Panera . . . fresh breads, bagels, soups, sandwiches, pastries and cookies (for my cookie monster).
Avocado and Goat Cheese on French Baguette Crostini -this sounds fabulous!
Elise prepared it with halved grape tomatoes on top . . . perfect Red and Green motif for Holiday Cocktails.
That’ s a great idea. I wish stores did these things here too.
This is a GREAT spot for FUN (and FREE) events, Jas. Come Visit!
I also fancy that avocado and strong cheese one. Not so sure about the crusty old bag it came with, though, French or not.
Bwahaha! You can have the topping . . . I’ll eat the crusty French bag!
I love Panera and I love “Green Eggs and Ham.”
Ditto x 2! I’ve been in ONE PLAY in my life . . . the starring role of the Grouch in Green Eggs & Ham!
All three sound wonderful! We love avocado but I am not crazy about goat cheese. We like avocado sliced on whole wheat toast with a bit of olive oil for breakfast. The cucumber yogurt dip, yum. Asiago cheese bread, yum again. Pico de Gallo!! What a fun thing to do Nancy!
Definitely time well spent . . . and next week is PIZZA! Yum.
I’d skip the goat cheese, but the rest sounds yummy…and the linked recipes in the Panera site sound delicious. I’m gonna check and see if the local Panera has cooking demos…I could use some inspiration!
Several of the Panera’s around here are holding them . . . so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. It’s FUN to be inspired in the kitchen.
Mmmm, sounds like a great way to be enticed to buy fresh bread! Personally, I love avocados and am going to definitely try that first recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I just checked the site and didn’t see the recipe, klrs. Here it is:
Mash together: 1 avocado (peeled and pitted), 2 tsp. fresh lime juice, 1/2 jalapeno (minced), 1-2 T. chopped cilantro, 1/2 scallion (finely chopped), 1 clove garlic (minced), 2 ounces fresh goat cheese, 1 T. extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. black pepper
Spread 1-2 tsp. of avocado mixture on each toasted crostini and top with halved grape tomatoes.
Crostini: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put 1/4″ thick baguette rounds on oven rack and bake until toasted, 2-3 minutes.
They all sound good to me! I could live on avocados, so that’s kind of a plus for me! What a fun experience and one I know I would enjoy. I have no objection to a good marketing ploy involving food!
Debra
Same here . . . try and sell me what you want, but please FEED ME delectable treats!
This sounds like fun! They are marketing geniuses
I’m a sucker for free food samples, as I often buy things I didn’t plan on based on the samples.
I never get “guilted” into making a purchase just because they gave me a “free nibble” . . . but, if something is YUMMY, I am more inclined to buy it while the taste lingers in my mouth.
Well that sounded like fun! Some things still are free, huh?
Yup . . . but you have to know where to look. As noted in your recent post, I rarely find FREEBIES in my mailbox these days.
I so would go for the Avocado and Goat Cheese on French Baguette Crostini. Yum!
That sounds like the favorite of the three among my discerning readers. We stopped in Trader Joe’s today (first visit) and I bought a medley of goat cheese and a whole grain baguette. I plan to build dinner around them.
Trader Joe’s has to be my favorite store. They carry so many great foods and have a great food selection. I also love their fresh bread selection. I always get the whole wheat miche / pain pascal. It tastes just like at home.
I don’t buy much in the way of prepared foods, but was tempted by Trader Joe’s Spanakopita (and by the Spinach, Kale, and Feta in phyllo) . . . but we didn’t have room in the cooler and had other stops to make. Next time.
I don’t really buy their prepared foods, but I love their frozen green beans (they come right from France and are simply delicious), the cheese, the bread, the fish, healthy finger tenders and fish sticks for the kids, and their frozen croissants and pains au chocolat (they taste just like home). Oh, and their tea and whole wheat dry pasta. I guess I need to go back soon!
Thanks! Next time, I’m going to get some frozen green beans, croissants and pains au chocolat!
i love avo. its the season here, so we get a lot
Sounds like the avocado is “everyone’s” favorite. I just never warmed up to it . . . although I have had guacamole a few times when it did suit.
These sound mouth watering, Nancy!!
Almost makes me want to throw a Cocktail Party . . . just to serve breads and spreads (and chips and dips).
Not too shabby looking, Nancy…
that might even rival my standard large no. one with Coke!
D-oh! I’m really running on all cylinders tonight (the above comment was intended to go… on the… above post)… *sigh*.
Anyway, Panera is BIG around St. Louis… I believe it originated as ‘St. Louis Bread Company’ before it spread… like… a… big… ball of yeasty dough. Or… something like that.
Thanks, SIG. I didn’t know that Panera started in St. Louis . . . and then rolled like a big ball of dough to make dough all across the country.