Crema Bodega in the Denver Central Market features small-batch coffees and creative espresso drinks. They have 22 local, national and international coffee roasters. I opted for a small, iced caramel latte, which was the lovely little jolt of energy I needed. It was a robust flavor profile with just the essence of caramel notes. True coffee lovers would be fans.



Grade: A

Take a look at all the goodies in this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box.

HERITAGE VIRGINIA MILLS
Cornbread mix
Organic, stone ground grains are in this easy to make cornbread mix. Owned and operated by a multigenerational family in SW Va.

MOUNTAIN TABLE
Coffee
This coffee is organically grown, fairly traded, and locally roasted with care in Renick, WV.

ROUTE 11 POTATO CHIPS
Dill Pickle Chips
Kettle cooked chips with a tangy dill pickle flavor. Made in Mount Jackson, VA

MOM BLAKEMAN'S
Kentucky Cream Candy
This delicious candy is made with a centuries old recipe where the sugar is pulled on a hook to develop the unique texture.

BROOKSTONE SOAPS
Body Butter
Made in Ona, WV from natural ingredients and nigari from J.Q. Dickinson to add extra minerals and extreme moisturizing.

OH, LITTLE WREN
Wood Magnets
These precious magnets are laser engraved in Virginia with unique designs to add décor to your home or office.

Izzio Bakery is a family-owned Colorado bakery that has been baking traditional organic sourdough breads since 1994.



At the Denver Central Market location, the bakery also features breakfast and lunch items in addition to an enticing dessert display.



A fresh fruit tart caught my eye. A cookie disc layered with a frosting and topped with a colorful bounty of summer berries. What's not to love? It was absolutely lovely.



Next time, I may opt for a sandwich and try that fresh-baked bread.



Grade: A

I have found the best bagels outside of NYC. That's because Rosenberg's Bagels in Denver does just about everything it can to replicate the NYC classic right in Denver.



"We only use the highest quality ingredients. Our bacon is heritage-breed pork, processed by Denver’s premier bacon company. We use cage-free eggs that were farmed locally no more than a week before being served. We ‘recreate’ NYC’s water with a machine that we had custom-fabricated, in order to make our bagels as authentic and delicious as possible. And being in a landlocked state, it can be pricey to fly in fresh (never frozen) fish, of which we only use the highest quality and is sustainably sourced and every slice, masterfully hand sliced," reads their website regarding pricing.



I visited their Stanley Marketplace location, which is technically in Aurora, and the first thing I noticed was the smell. There are few things better than fresh baked bread.



I ordered The High Class: Specialty Smoked Fish, Caviar Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion, Choice of Bagel (garlic). Plus a half sour pickle.



It's a little fancier than my standard lox bagel, so that made it a bit more fun. Slightly brinier and with some more interesting texture. Silky, smokey salmon, cream cheese, chewy bagel = it's a beautiful flavor combo.



Grade: A

Great Harvest Bakery is a franchise bakery & cafe that has recently expanded to The Mountain State - in Bridgeport and Elkins.



"For over 30 years we have been using long, traditional methods of baking to create breads that are truly one-of-a-kind, simple, wholesome, and delicious. Bread. The way it ought to be ... We still fresh mill our 100% whole grain flour every day. Baking from scratch was the norm for our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth. Bread. The way it ought to be ... Our wholesome sandwiches are layered with premium, nutritious ingredients between fresh baked bread. Sandwiches where the outside is as good as the inside! Bread. The way it ought to be."



The fast-casual cafe features sandwiches and salads, as well as breads, muffins, rolls, scones and the like. It reminds me of a more country-style Panera Bread with the agriculture-focused decor and menu items.



I visited around lunchtime, so I perused items like the Cubano, Roasted Pepper Chipotle Cheesesteak and the Spicy Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese before ultimately deciding on the Italian with genoa salami, smoked ham, roasted red pepper, black olive tapenade, provolone cheese, red wine vinaigrette, lettuce, tomato and onion on Farmhouse White Bread.



I gotta say - I was pretty happy with this sandwich. It was piled high with those classic Italian deli meats that when paired with fresh veggies and a nice, acidic vinaigrette, it is *chef's kiss*. Fresh, but flavorful.



I also snuck a butterscotch and coconut blondie type situation that was dang good. Sweet, but not too sweet. A little crunch, a little bitter. I appreciated the well-roundedness.



Grade: A