Black Sheep (Amherst, MA)

In the heart of the city of Amherst, MA, off the main street, sits a quaint bakery/cafe that houses a plethora of tasty freshly made treats daily. Ranging from delicate desserts to fresh made sandwiches, this hipster/college hang out is the kind of San Francisco wannabe deli that make me ache for the west coast's famous Tartine off 18th street.

I tried the Californian Sandwich, as more of a novelty, then for any other reason. I was pleasantly surprised by the roasted warm sun dried tomato paste with red onions, spinach and coupled with thinly sliced chicken. I was looking forward to tasting a pesto flavoring within the paste as described and was disappointed not to experience anything close.The house regular iced coffee was rich and robust which helped speed me along for the rest of my afternoon. However, the variety in coffee was weak and I did not notice a selection in Tea's which would help diversify their clientele.

The Apple Pecan Muffin, I tried on a second visit as more of an early morning dash to work. The muffin was not only a refreshing treat, it was a sweet comfort that was not overpowering nor was it bland. It was warm, fresh, and exactly what I wanted. I look forward to trying more of their baked goods soon.

Four Stars ****

Black Sheep
79 Main St
Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 256-1706

http://blacksheepdeli.com/

Atkins Farms Country Market: Cider Donuts

Dense cinnamon sugars delight in this homemade and enjoyable doughnut. Yes, I said doughnut. I had one with my morning coffee and I’ll tell you that it was a treat that I continue to fantasize. The moist dough is almost more of a delicate pastry than “just” a doughnut with its sugary/ cinnamon outer layer encompassing the fried dough which couples with the apple cider and a hint of cinnamon hidden inside the dough itself. This pairing is comforting to say the least. It has an original taste and consistency that reminds me of home cooked meals with your mom hovering over the oven with those feel good aromas wafting into the rest of the house. To achieve a higher degree of excellence, I would recommend readers to heat donuts for 5 minutes in your oven at 225 degrees (watch the donuts carefully depending on your stove), then serve with warm coffee, cold milk, or a nice cup of apple juice.Regular retail: $9.50 on sale $6.25!!

Family friendly, it pairs extremely well with a warm cup of butter toffee Keurig coffee!(http://www.keurig.com/) (shown in photo.)

(Stars 5): Homemade- Breakfast

Atkins Farms Country Market

Corner of RTE.116 & Bay Rd.

Amherst, MA 01002

http://www.atkinsfarms.com/