Eating thick and nutritious Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and granola is a daily ritual for me. Out of granola one morning, I schlepped over to Dean & Deluca. I was hopeful that they would have something to make my healthy parfait with.

Most of the granola looked awful, but then I found Baked Granola. It had neat packaging and intriguing flavors, so I grabbed a bag. The logo looked familiar.

Ah yes, those delectable looking brownies at the front counter are from Baked too. I thought to myself, this isn't going to be healthy.

As I flipped over the package, I expected a disappointing fat and calorie count.

Pleasantly surprised by diet friendly nutritional values I dashed to the cashier.

The moans that came from me as I hid behind my computer screen pouring more and more granola into my yogurt can only be described as inappropriate for the workplace.

I immediately scanned the package for a website. I sent their charming site to every foodie I know, and started to plan a trip to the Baked Brooklyn shop.

Founders Matt Lewis and Renato “Nato” Poliafito have been forging new frontiers in baking since 2005.

Having met years ago while working at an ad agency they eventually used their experience to fiercely impact the baked goods market. Their friendship developed as Matt moved on to the food industry. He was looking to Renato for help to develop a website for his West Village shop. Since Renato also had a desire to bake and make coffee for the masses, the pair teamed up and inspired one another to achieve their common goal.

Baked was born. Their first shop opened in Red Hook in 2005 at 359 Van Brunt Street and recently their second baby opened up in Charleston, South Carolina.

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These guys do everything from cakes to cookbooks, gear to granola, and cookies to coffee mugs. It all makes sense too (selling food AND goods often makes for a marketing nightmare). Matt and Nato possess true entrepreneurial spirit and a dedication to quality. They have brought Brooklyn and beyond some of the most amazingly delicious goodies ever to be gobbled (and the word on the street is they do weddings)!

Now to focus on the nutritional side of Baked Granola (the guys graciously participated in the "I Bought it Today" Healthy Food Tasting). I must divulge the truth behind the oats. It was difficult to get people to step away from the granola! I had to pull some of the tasters away and it did get a little physical, but who could blame them? Every morsel of each blend is above and beyond fresh and flavorful. For just around 140 calories a serving and 5 grams of fat (nearly low-fat) Baked Granola is just what the doctor ordered to get your crunch on.

The Baked guys actually created the granola to use in a yogurt parfait at the shop. It comes as no surprise Matt and Nato had to package and sell it to their customers who were desperately seeking to have it handy for midnight granola cravings. It mixes well with more than just yogurt (I've come up with at least a dozen ways to use it)! You can top off ice cream with it, carry it as a snack, toss your horse feed looking cereal, stir it into muffin batter, make your own nutrition bars,...um, how much time do you have?

The ways to eat and use Baked Granola are limited only to your culinary imagination!

The Flavors

House Blend: House Blend is hearty and smart. It contains rolled oats, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, dried cherries and raisins.

Mountain Blend: Mountain Blend makes you want to live like Heidi. With rolled oats, honey, maple syrup, almonds, pumpkin seeds, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, dried cranberries and apricots.

Chocolate Blend*: The Chocolate Blend has just the right touch of chocolate. Not too much, and not too little! It contains rolled oats, honey, almonds, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, dried banana chips, dried blueberries and toasted coconut!

Baked Granola is available for purchase here for $6.50 and it would be a shame not to try all three (and maybe a few brownies, or some homemade marshmallows, a dozen cookies, and a tee shirt or two)!

Baked Granola is also available at select Dean & Deluca, Blue Apron Fine Foods, DeCicco’s Ardsley, Foragers Market, Sgaglio’s Marketplace, Whole Foods Market, Zabars, Green Grape, Grab Specialty Foods, Fairway, and Food Emporium locations.


*The "I Bought it Today" Healthy Food Tasting Favorite!