BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Early on a Sunday afternoon, as others enjoy football games or the short burst of cool, sunny weather, Bryan Fine is at work.
“I just sent my driver away,” he said happily to News 6 partners Florida Today. “Yes, we certainly do deliver on Sundays, and I make bread (on weekends) too.”
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Fine is the man behind Mission Road Foods, which has sold Fine’s handmade breads since 2020, and they do sell, fresh and delivered to dozens of houses from Palm Bay to Rockledge; from Melbourne Beach to the Pineda Causeway; and on Merritt Island, between the Mathers Bridge and the Pineda.
As canny as he is skilled, Fine started his business in 2020, in the midst of the COVID outbreak, when people couldn’t or didn’t want to, leave their homes, and welcomed delivery of clean, healthy foods.
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“It caught on right away,” he said. “Then someone posted something about it on 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats (Florida Today’s Facebook group) and it went crazy.”
So it is for throughout Brevard: a renaissance for bakers whose bread is beyond what is found in the average supermarket or commercial bakery. If the word “artisanal” may be applied to any food, this is it, with no artificial flavoring or coloring, no additives, no flabbiness, only the strong hands of its bakers.
“I love getting my bread from local bakeries, without preservatives,” said Kristin Ingram, a member of 321 Flavor who prefers the products of Simply Bread and The Salty Bagel, as well as Mission Road.
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Fine called the success of his and other bakeries “an eye-opener” and added, “People tell me all the time that they know what my ingredients are and they appreciate them; they know good ingredients make better bread,” he said. “You can eat loaves and loaves of (commercial breads) and not get anything out of it. I just use microbes; natural microbes.”
When he started, Fine offered whatever he baked that day, with information available on his Facebook page. Now he has a colorful website, complete with online ordering.
“People would call in and I would say, ‘I have a loaf, I have a flatbread and I have another loaf. What do you want?’ Now I do nine loaves, four ‘small things,’ three muffins, English muffins and flatbreads (including naans). The biggest seller recently has been English muffins.”
He chalks it up to a general elevation of palate as well as awareness of good nutrition.
“Do people expect a better product?” he asked. “Absolutely. People are tired of prices going up while value goes down. They look for honesty and transparency from the people who make their foods, and that’s what they get from (local bakeries). I did not get into this business to become a millionaire. I got into it because I enjoy making bread and I hope they enjoy the breads I make.”
Details: 321-986-7724; missionroadfoods.com; facebook.com/MissionRoadFoods
A few of the other bakeries whose products are enjoyed by Brevardians include:
Artemis Holey Bread | Viera East
Artemis Holey has no address because customers receive it at local farmers’ markets or events, or after having left telephone messages. However anonymous its proprietor chooses to remain, its popularity is growing, with nine varieties of sourdough loaves and focaccias, among other things.
Details: 321-326-0277, artemisholeybread.com, search on Facebook
The Daley Trade | Titusville
Now well-received as a restaurant, The Daley Trade first gained notice for its house-made pasta and Old World-style bread, which chef Terrence Daley delivered himself. He still sells bread in The Daley Trade’s market; look for the likes of Croissants aux baies, berry croissants topped with colorful Fruity Pebbles cereal, as well as the crusty loaves you would expect.
Details: 330 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, facebook.com/thedaleytrade.
More about The Daley Trade: Brevard Restaurant of the Year: Titusville eatery earns kudos with eclectic menu, charming décor
Jacqueline’s Bakery
Since 2016, chefs Jackie Dittmore and Christophe Molitor’s bakery in downtown Melbourne, and a Suntree location that opened in 2022 have been the go-to places for genuine French breads and bread products, from boules to baguettes. You may just find sandwich breads too.
Details: 907 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, 321-312-6594; or 6977 N. Wickham Road, Suntree: 321-622-4776; jacquelinebakery.com
More: Find food with French flair at these 12 Brevard restaurants, on Bastille Day or any day
Simply Bread
Simply Bread uses organic flour and ingredients, and bread proofs for a minimum of 24 hours. The time helps the bread develop flavor and lets the enzymes to break down the gluten protein, which makes it easily digested. The bakery also uses no egg or dairy in all but one bread (Asiago cheese), which makes it vegan. Eleven varieties are available.
Details: 1754 A1A, Satellite Beach; 321-622-6180; simplybreadforyou.com.
Sunrise Bread Co.
Sunrise may be rightfully called the mother of all (Brevard) bakeries, having opened in 1996. It now is a two-story stalwart in downtown Titusville, with its specialty and whole grain breads, muffins, scones and rolls. The likes of Honey Whole Wheat, Great White, Wheat and White, Jalapeno Cheese, Cheese and Black Bean are baked daily, and others differ from day to day, on a schedule.
Details: 315 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville; 321-268-1009; sunrisebread.com
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