Grateful Bread Company

If you've found yourself swept off your feet recently by an extra-crisp baguette or focaccia with just the right amount of oil and rosemary, there's a good chance it was made by Grateful Bread. This family-owned bakery in Golden supplies artisan loaves twice daily to a list of metro-area eateries that reads like a who's-who of the restaurant industry, including a disproportionate number of Best of Denver winners. The bakery's operation is primarily wholesale, but it opens its doors to the public every Saturday (holidays excepted), so you can buy sticky buns and jalapeño-cheddar pretzels to eat now, and levain and ciabatta to nosh on later. Don't miss the chewy quinoa bread, which toasts up wonderfully for a protein-packed start to the day. The bakery will also sell its loaves, buns and rolls this summer at the Union Station Farmer’s Market.