The Ancestral Oven, Sourdough Bakery and Café — Restaurant in Worth Township

Food: I ordered the Jalapeño Cheddar First Rise sandwich. This sandwich was very simple in the presentation. However, it had the perfect notes of a breakfast sandwich. The sourdough brought was lightly crispy but not oversaturated with oil like other breakfast sandwiches. The egg and bacon on it are hearty enough, but the real star ingredient on the sandwich is the Chipotle mayo. I additionally ordered a toasted coconut Iced Latte. All of the coffee syrups are handmade and in-house by the owner, which is greatly appreciated. There is nothing artificial here. As for the toasted coconut flavor, the toasted part comes through more as natural coconut is actually very light in flavor when combined with notes as strong as coffee. I'd try their lavender or cinnamon dolce syrup flavors next. I also ordered their Mocha Bread Pudding, and it was easily the best item I ordered. I was fortunate enough to receive it freshly made, warmed, and cut. This pastry isn't something they always have available as they are always trying out different items, but this one, I devoured so quickly that I forgot to snap a picture. The serving size is large enough to share with another person. It was so warm and soft that the warm chocolate chips smeared the plate with every bite. If it's there, just get it.

Service: The owner George was very knowledgeable and welcoming as he answered my many inquiries about the items on the menu. He was very patient and extremely detailed. It was evident that he is, in fact, involved in the creation of the items instead of taking a back seat in the kitchen. On the way out, he offered me a complimentary Mexican Chocolate Chip cookie 🍪 that resembles the Abuelita hot chocolate mix. Definitely recommend lightly warming it up.

Atmosphere: While there are frills or thrills here, the interior and design are very simple and casual in nature. With the number of cafés popping up that are overcrowded and over-decorated with the same themes, this place is a breath of fresh air. This spot is definitely a hidden gem, and I secretly hope it...

Ancestral Oven has recently begun extending its offerings into the community. One recent development is that they are offering classes in the art of sourdough making.

A huge perk of this is that not only is it offered for groups, but they also have the option of a one-on-one session with Chef George. I took the one-on-one class, and it did not disappoint. First, it's with Chef George, the owner himself, who offers you his history with baking, sourdough itself, and how the ancestral oven came to be.

The class itself is well thought out, hands-on, and made me feel extremely comfortable with the process. No question was "stupid," and Chef George happily went over things as much as I needed the reassurance. I left with a loaf that would be ready to bake in my oven the next day, as well as all the tools needed, along with the understanding of how to use them appropriately.

I'd highly recommend giving it a try if you're curious about baking...

Hidden gem that is now one of my go-to breakfast and bakery spots. EVERYTHING is made fresh, in-house, and is completely organic without any preservatives. If you are lucky enough to be in early, the breakfast brisket sandwich is delicious, barely followed by the papas con chorizo sandwich. (Papas=potato). The freshly baked daily breads are very nice, and are even discounted the next day if any remain. The baked muffins, cinnamon rolls, "queens", and bread pudding are all made fresh in-house by the chef and staff, and are well worth a quick pop in.

The chef/owner, George, also offers classes to learn how to cook sourdough for kids or adults. I did the adult class, costing $75 for a 2-hour class, and walked away with an amazing lesson in both technique and the history of sourdough baking. Highly recommend The Ancestral Oven as a brunch spot, a bakery, and a stellar place for...