{{Short description|Bakery in Portland, Maine, U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox restaurant | embed = | name = ZU Bakery | title = <!-- If embedding use this for secondary small font title --> | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = | image_width = | image_alt = | image_caption = | mapframe = <!-- Set to yes to show a mapframe map --> | pushpin_map = <!-- Requires {{para|coordinates}} --> | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_size = | established = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | current_owner = | previous_owner = | manager = | head_chef = | chef = | pastry_chef = | food_type = | dress_code = | rating = | street_address = 81 Clark Street | city = Portland | county = | state = Maine | postcode = 04102 | country = United States | coordinates = {{Coord|43.648411|-70.264448|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-ME|display=inline,title}} | seating_capacity = | reservations = | other_locations = | other_information = <!-- or |other_label= --> | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''ZU Bakery''' is a bakery located at 81 Clark Street in Portland, Maine, owned by Barak Olins.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Genevieve |date=2023-03-07 |title=Designed to Flow |url=https://www.themainemag.com/designed-to-flow/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=The Maine Mag |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002191115/https://www.themainemag.com/designed-to-flow/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Pols |first=Mary |date=2014-04-27 |title=Barak Olins of Zu Bakery |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2014/04/27/meet__barak_olins_/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Press Herald |archive-date=2023-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928202239/https://www.pressherald.com/2014/04/27/meet__barak_olins_/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Andrew |date=2022-12-14 |title=Dine Out Maine: The Best of 2022 |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2022/12/14/dine-out-maine-the-best-of-2022/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Press Herald |archive-date=2024-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116132712/https://www.pressherald.com/2022/12/14/dine-out-maine-the-best-of-2022/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The bakery won a James Beard Award in 2024 in the category of outstanding bakery.<ref name="Downeast Magazine">{{cite web |last1=Stebbins |first1=Sarah |title=Zu Bakery Owner Barak Olins's Favorite Maine Place |url=https://downeast.com/our-towns/barak-olins-favorite-maine-place/ |website=Downeast |publisher=Downeast Magazine |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
== History == ZU Bakery was founded in 2000 by Barak Olins in his brother and sister-in-law's barn in Freeport, Maine.<ref name=":0" /> At this time ZU Bakery sold baked goods at the Brunswick Farmer's Market.<ref name="Downeast Magazine"/>
It moved to Clark Street in Portland's West End in 2022. There, the bakery uses wood-fired ovens to bake French-style pastries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland bakery, pastry chef win 2024 James Beard Awards |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/news/2024/06/11/portland-bakery--pastry-chef-win-2024-james-beard-awards- |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
It won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Bakery in 2024, which honors a bakery for outstanding baked goods, atmosphere, and connection to community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/dining/james-beard-award-winners.html|title=The Full List of the 2024 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Award Winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612005440/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/dining/james-beard-award-winners.html|archive-date=June 12, 2024|first=Kim|last=Severson|access-date=June 12, 2024|work=The New York Times|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lavar |title=Zu Bakery Noted by James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery 2024 |url=https://stupiddope.com/2024/06/zu-bakery-portland-maine-james-beard-award-2024/ |website=Stupid Dope |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
==Description== ZU Bakery specializes in bread loaves which Olins mills himself.<ref name="Downeast Magazine"/> In addition to traditional French-style pastries and breads, it bakes Irish scones and Italian biscotti.<ref name=":1" />
The bakery prepares different items throughout the day, rather than preparing the bulk of their offerings before opening. Typically, pastries like croissants are ready earliest, then breads by midday, and savory goods like pizza in the afternoon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dao |first1=Alana |title=Zu Bakery |url=https://www.theinfatuation.com/portland-me/reviews/zu-bakery |website=The Infatuation |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Food}} * List of bakeries
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Bakeries of the United States Category:James Beard Foundation Award winners Category:Restaurants in Portland, Maine Category:West End (Portland, Maine)
{{Maine-stub}}