Twisted Tree is turning out handcrafted pastries in downtown Edmond
Bakery prospects are brightening in the 405 diningscape as Edmond welcomes a new one.
Downtown Oklahoma City added Harvey Bakery earlier this year, and downtown Edmond is adding Twisted Tree Baking Company.
Chef Robert Black, who owns Cafe Evoke with his wife Lori, is partnering with his sister Kassie Joslin to open the European-style bakery at 111 N Broadway.
Black and his sister welcomed pastry chef Pierre Fauvet this summer for a consultation. Black turned to Fauvet, who spent years as corporate pastry chef for Starbucks in Seattle and now lives in Mesa, Arizona, when he was helping to install pastry and bread service at Kitchen No. 324 for A Good Egg Dining Group way back in 2012. Their relationship dates back to Black's days in the old Coach House Apprenticeship Program.
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Black's relationship with his partner in Twisted Tree dates back to birth. Black and his sister Joslin grew up visiting their Grandma Dee, who taught them to cook. On the way to her house, the family always passed an old elm tree twisted over time by harsh Oklahoma weather. The bakery is named for the tree, which Black says illustrates his family's approach to survival via strength, resolve and growth.
I stopped by Twisted Tree over the weekend as they prepared for the Tuesday opening and sampled a variety of breads and pastries. Pain au raisin, pot de creme, butter croissants, and a lemon lavender bar were among the samples I noshed. Can't wait to try a wild blueberry cream cheese danish, orange-glazed nutella cruffin and Eclair Fauvet.
Textures were perfection, harboring balanced flavors beneath. The result is a promising new place for locals to find handcrafted baked goods that show standard-raising potential.
Twisted Tree is a refreshing addition to the 405 diningscape. To bring it to market, Black not only consulted with Fauvet but also former Prairie Thunder Baking Company founder John McBryde. All to support Joslin, a former school teacher, who lived for years in Miami, OK.
During the pandemic, Joslin's interest in baking grew into a passion. The practice she got during lockdown prepared her to work with pros like Fauvet, McBryde and her brother to bring her baked goods to market.
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"I said 'Kassie, this bread is of the highest quality; it's artisanal,'" Black recalled. "I told her the quality was good enough to build a business around. Last year, she called to say they were moving to Oklahoma City."
The Blacks promise handcrafted baked goods with a commitment to old-world techniques.
"Each and every baked good is crafted with care, intention, and wonder so everyone can experience the simple joy of homemade breads and pastries," Black said
The bakery produces not only top-quality pastries, but also features a variety of breads by the loaf, including country sourdough, buttery flaxseed, honey wheat, and focaccia with baguettes and a daily rotator.
Other pastries offerings include cookies, cheesecakes, muffins, and doughnuts. Sandwiches will join the menu as the store evolves. Black said they've already had a number of queries from commercial customers. He said they are going to give the kitchen at least a month to settle into the daily retail routine before settling on a lucky seven vendors to supply with bread and pastries going forward.
The store will offer drip coffee and a few other beverages. Black said they hope folks will pick up pastries on their way to Cafe Evoke, which is just a few blocks away, for artisanal coffee. Twisted Tree has limited window seating inside and a handful of patio seats out front.
The bakery will keep the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Twisted Tree Bakery is coming to Edmond, Oklahoma
