Taking a bite of a Grandma’s Potato Donut ($1.50) at Bloom, I was instantly reminded of doughnuts I’d met before. The common grocery store version — so tempting, yet so disappointing. Next, the time my mom made doughnuts from scratch — sweet, warm, and unforgettable. The Bloom doughnut was like the latter: hearty with a thin shell of raw sugar.
Breakfast is served all day at Bloom, which bills itself as an “independent art house and cafe.” The menu touts that all eggs are from cage-free hens and a local artisan bakes the bread in house. Omelets and scrambles ($8 to $11) come in versions with gruyere, feta and blue cheese, along with tried-and-true cheddar. There are buttermilk pancakes with real maple syrup or vanilla bean mascarpone ($8). A surprise is a breakfast salad with local, organic arugula, bacon, avocado, tomato, poached egg and truffle vinaigrette with wheat toast ($9).
Lunch is divided between “salads” and “not salads.” Under salads: Asian chicken capellini, red bell pepper, green onion and sesame seed ($9); or quinoa with cranberries, parsley and walnuts ($8). Besides simple grilled cheese ($7) and BLT ($9), sandwiches include muffaletta on a baguette with salami, prosciutto, pickled asparagus, onion, tomato, provolone and onion tapenade ($8).
Beverages are far from ordinary. There’s a pomegranate mimosa ($7) and a manmosa, the pomegranate mimosa in a “manly glass” ($8/$9). Besides hot chocolate, hot apple cider is served seasonally ($2).
Bloom is at 403 S. Main St., Moscow, (208) 882-4279.
