Townsend Park Bakery's roasted red pepper demi fougasse

Townsend Park Bakery, Albany NY

Ah, the memories. I walked into the new Townsend Park Bakery on Washington Ave. wearing sensible tennis shoes and a baggy sweatshirt, but a few steps in to the back room and I could almost feel myself teetering in a pair black heels, three martinis to the wind and doing my best to complete a double-rotation spin without stepping any of my fellow swing dancers’ toes.

Didn't this used to be the Fuze Box back in the day?

When I first moved to Albany (the-double-income-no-kids days) a group of us would barbecue in Washington Park every Thursday night. After dinner, we’d gussy up and then meet at the Fuze Box for a night of swing dancing, drinking, and making up funny names for the cast of characters who showed up every week.

I mentioned this to my mom, who had joined me for a quick lunch, and she said she was doing her own walk down memory lane. In her high school days, the place had been home to what she and her friends considered the best pizza in Albany. They would sit at a little bar counter in the back and wait for the super thin New York style slices to arrive.

So perhaps Townsend, with its big wood oven in the back, is really just coming full circle. We couldn’t try the pizza because they don’t serve pizza until 5 pm (boo hoo), but that turned out just as well because we stumbled into some the best sandwiches either of us had tasted in quite a while.

Braised pork and pear panini

The Ten Eyck, with braised pork, pear slices, provolone cheese and tarragon mayonnaise, goes on my list of favorite Albany sandwiches along with this and this. (And since Peaberrys no longer exists, if someone out there wanted to make a fried eggplant and mozzarella sandwich, I promise to be your best friend.)

Panini with spinach, sprouts, roasted red peppers, cilantro aioli, and olive tapanade

I had trouble with the photos. I forgot my camera when I was there with my mom. On my next trip, I took my very pregnant best friend. The lighting was tough and she was hungry, so I had to settle for these.

My kids love the red pepper fougasse.

Townsend Park Bakery's red pepper fougasse

If you get the whole huge thing it is $7.50, which seems like a lot of money for a loaf of bread. But not so much if you think of it more like a sandwich. I bought the smaller $4 demi fougasse, and, along with a tossed salad, it was enough to make a meal for my three kids.

My two favorite qualities in bread are a deep sour dough tang and some serious chew. Townsend breads have both. They aren’t for the faint of teeth.

I can’t wait to try the pizza.

I hear they are adding a clam pizza in the next few days and soups next week.

Details:
Townsend Park Bakery Cafe
Organic Sour dough breads, wood-fired pizza, panini

238 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY
(518) 462-2881
Open: Monday - Sat. 11 am - 9pm (bread loaves often sell out by 2 pm)

posted November 22, 2008 | link | comments (14)

filed under: Places, Albany, Fuze Box, Townsend Park Bakery, wood-fired pizza

AllOverAlbany.com

Comments

Townsend Park is fantastic! After stopping in for only bread, I had the opportunity to take a few friends there for lunch (we also sadly missed the pizza) a week or so ago. The Steve Barnes (with sun dried tomato spread and smoked Gouda) is delicious.

I agree--mozzarella and eggplant sounds heavenly. And they should name it the Celina Bean!

Oh, they make a nice espresso as well.

- by Amanda on Nov 24, 2008 at 3:00 PM | link

We stopped at Townsend Park for lunch today - I'm so glad you told us they served lunch, I thought it was just a bakery. Had the pork paninni - fabulous! The tables and chairs are a little rickety but it wasn't crowded (even after your review!) and we had a nice time talking to the waitress. Soups start next week!

I bought the red pepper fougasse (the big one - we're good eaters!) at your recommendation and am taking it home to make soup/salad/fougasse for supper.

- by MaryKate on Nov 25, 2008 at 2:18 PM | link

My boy's been working part-time as a baker along with the head chef at Townsend. He recommends asking to try the most traditional of their pizzas, which is simply tomato sauce, good olive oil, basil and sea salt. He says the olive oil combines with the crust to create a flavor similar to Normandy butter.

- by jess on Nov 28, 2008 at 11:16 AM | link

Just a little clarification: The bakery is in what was once a club called the Power Company, which closed at least five years ago. The Fuze Box originally was a club-within-a-club, in the back room of the Power Company, before moving across Central Avenue into what was once the punk club QE2 and, before that, a White Tower burger joint. The Fuze Box is still open.

- by Steve Barnes on Nov 29, 2008 at 3:52 PM | link

Yes, of course. Thanks for making that clear. I never meant to imply that the Fuze Box was no longer open. Only that it had once occupied the space that is now the back of Townsend.

Thanks Steve!

- by celinabean on Dec 1, 2008 at 9:56 AM | link

Come on over to Delish Deli at the Delmar Mobil station, I promise to make you an fried eggplant sandwich with fresh mozzarella and my homemade pesto! I am there on Wed, Thursday and Friday, ask for Marie.
I just discovered your site, and I love it!

- by Marie on Dec 2, 2008 at 9:56 AM | link

I second that, the Fougasse is pretty good, and close to the real French thing (my folks live near Provence). Actually their bread is excellent too.

- by S on Dec 3, 2008 at 2:01 PM | link

If you are looking for an eggplant sang-wich - the fried eggplant, egg salad & bacon sandwich (trust me) at Better Bite is the bomb. Boom.

- by HumanMale on Feb 20, 2009 at 10:16 AM | link

Townsend Park Bakery is not officially re-opened!

- by TS on May 26, 2010 at 2:02 PM | link

We went tonight after reading article. We loved the pizza! they also have really big wide tables that can fit 20 or so (think church pews w/ a tabel between). The ambiance is great and the food wonderful!

- by lorraine on Jul 17, 2010 at 7:43 PM | link

IT'S OPEN!!! 5pm - 11pm. In the past it was closed every time I went over to eat there, but they have reopened. It's a beautiful place. Perfect if you just want to get together with a friend -- tables for two in the very front, for four in the very back, and huge tables that are perfect for large groups. There is an opening in the back wall to view the wood fire in the stone oven. All that I have had the chance to eat has been the rosemary bread so far. It was wonderful. Great crunchy crust (not too hard) and soft delicious inside. I can't wait to go back!

- by maddalyn on Oct 6, 2010 at 8:59 AM | link

Hey, went by to pick up a loaf (which I try to do every week) and it says the kitchen's closed. Bummer! This is one of my favorite places. Does anybody know what the deal is?

- by Marco on Oct 27, 2010 at 1:28 PM | link

something is up with the TPB...as they had to relocate the To Kill a Mockingbird read-a-thon that was supposed to be held there. It's been moved over to the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza.

- by llcwine on Oct 29, 2010 at 8:41 AM | link

I currently have a pizza business in Green Island for sale. Do you know of anyone who may be interested in taking it over?

Good Day,
Kevin Hertzel
GOP Realty

http://www.grandoldproperty.com/40George.html

- by Kevin Hertzel on Mar 9, 2011 at 3:07 PM | link

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