If you have ever stopped into one of the few shops around campus serving Four Worlds croissants (Lovers and Madmen or Cream and Sugar) then you will know exactly what we are talking about.
Four Worlds Bakery, started by “Challahman” Michael Dolich in his West Philly house in 2006, now shares a space with Kaffa Crossing, a nearby Ethiopian café. Every day he and his bakers use local ingredients, freshly milled grains, natural yeast starter and Celtic Sea Salt to put out deliciously dense and flavorful breads. His blog site holds the details of his small business and features order forms so that you can pick up your bread on the same day that it is prepared.
What you need to know is that this local former lawyer has perfected the almond croissant. It's the perfect size, with a slightly salted and buttery flakiness topped with crisp almond chips on the outside, and a soft, sweet inside. Dolich does not deceive you with oversized, bulbous middle sections or generous amounts of powdered sugar. The ground almond in the interior is not too pasty or too bitter, but naturally good. It is one of the best things you might put into your mouth, in fact.
Alongside the almond croissants, there are plain and chocolate croissants, his own special goat cheese croissant, which is subtle, yet savory, and a raisin option. Many of the coffee shops around West Philly offer the croissants daily along with an assortment of his bagels (plain, poppy, everything and sesame) and baguettes. At Kaffa Crossing, for example, you can walk in on any given day to find chocolate spelt babka, egg or whole wheat challah and a variety of sourdoughs.
At present, FWB also offers whole wheat levain, olive/rosemary levain, potato rye and caraway rye. If you are serious about your bread, the best way to get it is to put in an order ahead of time for a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday pick-up. Given the small dimensions of the enterprise, do not be surprised to find an already depleted counter, with only bread crumbs left to tease.
Four Worlds Bakery Kaffa Crossing Cafe 4423 Chestnut St. (215) 760-5832 Don’t Miss: Almond croissant Skip: Showing up in the late afternoon Bottom Line: You won't find a better croissant anywhere else.
