When driving into Downtown Healdsburg, visitors are greeted by the small-town charm of darling storefronts, restaurants, tasting rooms and art galleries. Before heading off to indulge in wine, tuck into a delicious breakfast at Costeaux French Bakery. Having served as Healdsburg’s Bakery since 1923, one might say Costeaux knows a thing or two about incredible baked goods.
Over the last 100 years, the bakery name changed numerous times, but in 1973, Jean and Anne Costeaux swapped the moniker to Costeaux French Bakery. Eight years later, Costeaux was purchased by its current owners, Karl and Nancy Seppi. The previous owner, and its namesake, taught Karl the technique of making bread, particularly sourdough. During his very first year, the bakery won the only gold medal for bread at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. With such a strong start, it should come as no surprise that Costeaux has continued to earn numerous ribbons and medals during competitions.
During our visit to Costeaux French Bakery, it was a gorgeous sunny day in Healdsburg with a patio full of people enjoying their meals. Inside, we found a small marketplace full of tantalizing treats, fresh artisan bread and gifts on one side and a large dining room on the other. Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Costeaux has a cozy and casual atmosphere that is welcoming and relaxing.
Whether you want coffee, tea or a brunch cocktail, Costeaux has you covered. The classic mimosa is made with fresh-squeezed orange juice and is absolutely delightful. As we sipped our mimosas, we ordered a couple of pastries; French pastries are simply in a league of their own. First, we tried the Mocha Florentine cookies, which are buttery, rolled almond cookies that are filled with mocha buttercream and dipped in chocolate. These cookies are so very special–you cannot find something like this just anywhere. We ate them as slowly as possible because we never wanted it to end. We also tried the morning bun, which is crunchy and sugary on the outside, soft on the inside and perfect for pairing with a hot cup of coffee.
While deep-dish pizza can be controversial, we assure you that Costeaux’s deep-dish quiche–a favorite entry on the bakery’s cafe menu–is not. Made with a buttery and crispy crust and filled with black forest ham, applewood-smoked bacon, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, spinach, Jarlsberg and cheddar cheese, the quiche is finished off with a caramelized top. Even as our very first deep-dish quiche, we’re not sure any other could measure up. The Monte Cristo is made with Costeaux’s cinnamon-walnut bread, black forest ham, turkey and Jarlsberg cheese with a side of cranberry relish. The bread is so fresh and an intriguing complement to the sandwich’s traditional ingredients.
Alongside its cafe menu and pastries, the bakery also serves up delicious cakes (including wedding cakes), tarts, boxed lunches and more.
Costeaux French Bakery is open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.costeaux.com.
417 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95448