Last week I had a chance to take a peek at the upcoming ~CRAFTSMAN AND WOLVES~ from Outfit Generic and William Werner, opening at 746 Valencia. The project is less than two weeks out—they are primarily waiting for the Italian pastry cases to show up. The contemporary pâtisserie will feature a range of Werner’s custom creations, like pastries, confections, confitures, and cakes inspired by his travels to France and Japan. There will also be house-baked bread (levain, brioche), some sandwiches and savory bites, and CAW will even sell some of the produce the kitchen uses, like peaches.
Some items on the menu include his famed rebel within; passion-sesame croissant; the debut of the cube cakes (like one of raspberry, coconut, and Earl Grey); a savory financier with zucchini, olive oil, and pistachio; and I’m here to tell you his chocolate-salted caramel brownie is going to enslave you. Savory items include sandwiches on house-baked ciabatta (either king trumpet mushroom, chèvre, cucumber, and mizuna; or smoked ham, summer squash, bacon, and whole-grain mustard) and savory bites that will pair well with a glass of wine or beer (coming soon), like salmon rillettes and savory madeleines; beet salad, hazelnuts, and fennel; and country pâté, pickles, and toasted levain.
Coffee service will be from Sightglass on a La Marzocco Linea machine, and check out the custom enamel-steel mug you can buy, made at a 100-year-old factory in Poland using machinery that dates back to WWII.
The space has a tall ceiling with skylights, original brick walls, a pattern of wood slats along the walls, and will feature tones of gray, giving it a very modern look that’s not faux rustic. The 20-foot-long, waist-high pastry case dominates the interior. There are many artistic touches, from the large-format image by Heimo Schmidt to the custom shelves by Geoff Campen. The space will have a communal table with room for up to 10, and a standing bar with room for 12. There will also be a retail component, selling walk-away items like granola, exquisite chocolate-white shoyu caramels, and pâtes de fruit in flavors like strawberry yogurt. Hours will be Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 8am-8pm, and Sun 8am-5pm.
In case you just can’t wait, you’ll want to swing by for a preview trunk show at nearby Pot + Pantry on Thursday May 31st, featuring a variety of items from the menu, hot chocolate, and drip coffee from Sightglass Coffee. 7am-7pm. 593 Guerrero St. at 18th St.
The back kitchen area (with concrete panels). Photo: © tablehopper.com.
