Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Mom’s Baked Goods

olympia bakery
Jenna is one of several friendly bakers serving up toothsome treats at Mom’s Baked Goods.
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By Katie Doolittle

Edward Jones Block AdBonnie Elsey is no stranger to the food industry. She’s been running restaurants for 28 years. Actually, her arrival in Olympia marked the start of a second career. She tells me what motivated her to sell her place down in Longview. “I thought I wanted to retire,” she says, “but that was too boring.”

Olympia-area foodies are lucky she chose to relocate and reopen around here. Fans of BLTs and classic clubs might recognize Elsey as the proprietor of downtown Olympia’s 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop. This popular eatery opened in 2005, and has since inspired a host of positive online reviews. In fact, business has been so good that Elsey recently opened a second sandwich shop, 5th on 4th.

olympia bakery
Bonnie Elsey owns and operates three Olympia-area eateries: the 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop, 5th on 4th Sandwiches, and Mom’s Baked Goods.

What sets Elsey’s sandwiches apart? She’s quick to answer: the bread. It’s homemade daily using her personal recipes. And as Elsey’s business volume has increased she needed more space to dedicate to bread making. This was the original impetus behind Mom’s Baked Goods, which opened May 2014.

Located next to the 5th on 4th Sandwich Shop, Elsey’s bakery has its own special vibe. Lush planters and hanging baskets decorate the brand new brick storefront. Inside, the cozy space feels as cheerful and inviting as a beloved grandmother’s kitchen. Sunshine streams through the large windows, illuminating the buttery yellow walls and meticulously clean pastry cases. Every inch of space is artfully used, with yet more baked goods on display inside glass-domed cake platters and wrought-iron pastry servers. One of my favorite features is that all of the baking is visible to customers; hungry folks of all ages will enjoy watching the friendly staff as they cut cookies, mix dough, and spread fragrant, vividly-colored filling into pie crusts.

olympia bakery
At Mom’s Baked Goods, the portions are always generous.

“My style is very homemade,” says Elsey. “These are my old-fashioned recipes that I raised my kids on.” Her food bears silent testimony to the truth of this description. Each Danish is a gorgeous coil of golden pastry and jammy filling. The various types of brownies promise an avalanche of chocolate to your taste buds. Slivered almonds and snowy glaze cover each bear claw. And the gigantic square marshmallows leave faint sugary smears on their glass canister.

Chewy and fresh, the pastries quite literally melt in your mouth. I consider this quite an accomplishment, especially considering Elsey’s generous portion sizes. How does she maintain proper cookie texture, for instance, when her snickerdoodles are at least the size of saucers? Explains Elsey, “We use real ingredients–cream, butter–and that’s what makes a difference.”

olympia bakery
Jenna is one of several friendly bakers serving up toothsome treats at Mom’s Baked Goods.

Elsey’s tasty treats can’t be beat. Sadly, they also can’t be shared–at least, not in my household! Everyone is quick to guard their favorite dessert from encroachers hoping for a nibble. Even my recent impassioned plea (“I need to taste it for my article!”) fell on uncaring ears, and I was reduced to scraping leftover lemon curd from the inside of a pastry bag. It was fabulous, by the way: a perfect balance of tart and sweet. I’ll soon be heading back to Mom’s Baked Goods so that I can enjoy a whole lemon bar to myself. Who knows? If I get there early enough I may even be able to snag one of her legendary soft pretzels before they sell out.

Traditionally, food is one of the primary ways in which families show love. Certainly, this is true for the Elseys. Elsey’s four children have always been involved in her restaurants. “Hollie was eight and used to stand on a milk crate and wash dishes,” Elsey recalls, before sharing that Hollie is now the bakery’s top pie expert. Other children Melodie, Paul, and Tim also provide indispensable support in cooking, baking, service, and behind-the-scenes work.

olympia bakery
Customers come early to buy Elsey’s delicious, beautifully displayed bread.

“Occasionally they leave and do something else,” says Elsey. “But they always come back to Mom.” Her affection and appreciation for her family is clear. “I couldn’t do it without them.”

Elsey’s joy in what she does just might be the secret ingredient that sets her food apart. Certainly, it makes for a pleasant experience as a customer. It’s nice to know that Elsey’s warm-hearted attitude extends to each one of her patrons. “I like Olympia,” she says. “People here are fun to cook for; they enjoy new things.”

Visit any of Elsey’s restaurants and you will be delighted by the friendly service and quality food. The 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop is located at 117 5th Avenue SE in Olympia. 5th on 4th is literally next door to her bakery at 926 4th Avenue E, Olympia.

And finally, Mom’s Baked Goods is located at 916 4th Avenue E in Olympia. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Orders can be placed by calling 360-943-0993 during business hours. If you want a whole pie, Elsey definitely recommends calling ahead!

 

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