First Watch Restaurants Use Fresh Artisan Breads Like Sourdough and Brioche

First Watch Restaurants Rely on Fresh, Quality Breads to Complement Their Menu

First Watch is a popular daytime cafe chain known for serving fresh, made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes using high-quality ingredients. But what type of bread does First Watch use for their sandwiches, avocado toast, and other menu items?

As a restaurant focused on providing healthy, flavorful meals to customers, First Watch takes care in selecting bakery-fresh breads that perfectly complement their menu. Let's take a closer look at the types of bread served at First Watch locations and what makes them the perfect base for First Watch's signature dishes.

Artisan Sourdough

One of the most popular bread choices at First Watch, artisan sourdough is featured on their grilled cheese sandwiches, deli sandwiches, and avocado toast. This hearty artisan loaf has a crunchy crust and chewy texture. The use of a sourdough starter gives the bread a characteristic tangy, sour flavor.

Sourdough undergoes a long fermentation process that creates probiotics, making it easier to digest. The acids present help control blood sugar response. This makes sourdough a great choice for sandwiches and toast.

Multi-Grain Wheat

For guests looking for a fiber-filled, protein-rich option, the multi-grain wheat bread offers the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and nutrition. This hearty bread contains whole grains like oats, rye, barley, and millet plus wheat for a tasty, satisfying slice.

The array of grains provides B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and antioxidant compounds. The whole grains also give this bread its nutty, earthy flavor that pairs nicely with avocado, eggs, and other First Watch ingredients.

Focaccia

Focaccia is featured on some of First Watch's sandwich selections like their Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich. This Italian flatbread has a light, airy interior with a crispy, olive oil-brushed crust dotted with herbs.

The texture of focaccia perfectly complements thinly sliced deli meat and cheese. It also holds up well when stuffed with layered sandwich ingredients without getting soggy. The touch of herbs and olive oil gives it a savory flavor.

Ciabatta

Another Italian-inspired bread baked by First Watch is ciabatta, which shows up on their Prime Rib Hash sandwich. Ciabatta has a rustic appearance with a crisp crust and signature holes throughout the bread.

The open crumb structure allows it to soak up juices and flavors easily. Ciabatta also has a firm but tender chew. It can stand up to hearty ingredients like prime rib without falling apart. The mellow wheat flavor pairs well with many foods.

Brioche Buns

For their selection of burgers, First Watch uses delicate, buttery brioche buns. These lightly sweetened buns have a golden flaky crust and soft, cake-like crumb. Brioche dough is enriched with eggs and butter, giving it a melt-in-your-mouth quality.

The richness of brioche balances the juicy meatiness of a burger patty beautifully. It also toasts up nicely, providing the perfect base for First Watch's signature burgers like the Smoked Brisket Burger or Southern Burger.

English Muffins

On their popular Benedict dishes, First Watch uses fresh English muffins as the base. The nooks and crannies of an English muffin are perfect for absorbing the creamy hollandaise sauce and runny egg yolks.

English muffins have a lighter texture than other bread choices with a toasted, crunchy exterior and a soft, porous center. They provide the ideal vehicle for poached eggs and toppings while adding a subtle yeasty, wheaty taste.

Bagels

For breakfast sandwiches like their Egg White Bagel Sandwich, First Watch serves up flavorful bagels. These dense, chewy rounds have a signature hole in the center and a shiny, crisp crust.

Bagels can be topped with sweet or savory ingredients and hold up well to sandwich fillings. Their sturdy texture also stands up to toasting and baking. They provide a satisfying base for breakfast sandwiches.

Gluten-Free Bread

For guests avoiding gluten, First Watch offers a gluten-free bread option made with a blend of rice flour, tapioca starch, and sorghum flour. The texture is softer than regular bread yet still holds together well.

This bread has a mild flavor and can be topped with sweet or savory ingredients just like traditional bread. First Watch's gluten-free bread allows those with dietary needs to still enjoy sandwiches, toast, and other menu items.

First Watch's Bread Selection Philosophy

It's clear that only fresh, high-quality breads make it onto the menu at First Watch restaurants. So what guides their bread selection philosophy? A few key principles stand out.

Complementing the Menu

First Watch chooses breads like brioche, focaccia, and ciabatta that specifically enhance their menu items. The breads provide the perfect substrate for their sandwich fillings, toppings, and sauces.

Each bread is carefully matched with menu items to provide the ideal flavor, texture, and structure to balance and showcase the other ingredients.

Nutrition and Ingredients

In line with their commitment to fresh, health-conscious fare, First Watch prioritizes breads made with natural, high-quality ingredients. They favor nutrient-rich options like whole grain, sprouted grain, and sourdough breads.

Minimally processed breads with shorter ingredient lists help support the wellness-focused menu. Options like gluten-free or ancient grain breads cater to diverse nutritional needs.

Versatility

First Watch chooses breads that can adapt to different dishes and preparations like toasting, grilling, or baking. Sturdy Italian breads hold up to panini presses while English muffins or bagels can be split for sandwiches.

The breads can be used for multiple menu items in many forms. Having versatile breads means more menu creativity and less waste.

Freshness

Since First Watch bakery partners supply fresh loaves and baked goods daily, the breads are consistently at their peak of freshness. Bread is delivered throughout the day and prepared to order.

The quick turnover means customers always get hot, fresh bread with a just-baked taste and texture.

Guest Preferences

Input from customers helps shape the bread selection as First Watch aims to provide crowd-pleasing options. Favorites like brioche and sourdough remain menu staples based on positive guest feedback.

They continue evolving the bread program by occasionally testing specialty or seasonal breads to keep things exciting.

How First Watch Breads Are Prepared and Served

To get the best flavor and experience from their breads, First Watch bakes, grills, and prepares them using specific techniques.

Slicing

Breads like sourdough, multigrain, and focaccia are sliced fresh in-house throughout the day. Thinner slices enhance the sandwich experience while providing the ideal proportions.

Toasting

Many of their sandwiches and avocado toast feature bread toasted for a crisp exterior while maintaining a soft interior crumb. The toasting enhances flavor and texture.

Grilling

Grilling infuses sandwiches with smoky flavor while crisping up the bread. Ciabatta and focaccia hold up especially well to being grilled in a panini press.

Eggs and Toppings

English muffins and gluten-free bread are often used as a base for Benedicts and other egg dishes, allowing the sauces and toppings to shine.

Accompaniments

Brioche buns complement the juicy First Watch burgers,

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.