Panera Bread

I'm a sucker for a good sandwich, so it probably comes as no surprise that Panera Bread is one of my favorite California cafes.

Panera Bread restaurants, with locations throughout the nation, specialize in fresh-baked breads, soups, salads and espresso-based drinks. Panera Bread cafe also offers free WiFi, making it a popular hangout for business people and college students.

Panera Bread's head chef Dan Kish, former assistant dean at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), has added new menu items for the summer, including a Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad; a Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Salad; a Frozen Strawberry Lemonade; and Lobster Sandwich (in select restaurants). 

I'm a creature of habit, so I usually order the "You Pick 2" Panera Bread menu which includes a cup of soup, half cafe salad or half cafe sandwich.

Panera Bread soups, made fresh daily, vary by day and season, but you can always find their French onion, lowfat chicken noodle and broccoli cheddar soups on the menu daily.

Each Panera Bread salad comes with your choice of French or whole grain baguette slice, potato chips or an apple. I love the Panera Bread Greek Salad, a tangy combination of chopped Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, onions, kalamata olives and vine-ripened tomatoes. For something more unique, try their Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, topped with onions, gorgonzola cheese, pecans and Fuji apple vinaigrette. The BBQ Panera Bread Chicken Salad comes with roasted corn, tortilla chips, black beans and barbecue Ranch dressing.

For a light lunch or dinner, you can't go wrong with any of the Panera Bread sandwiches, which are available cold or grilled. My favorite Panera Bread sandwich is their hot Frontega Chicken Panini, made with smoked chicken, tomatoes, basil, onion and mozzarella. It's smeared with a generous dollop of chipotle mayonnaise, and served on fresh-baked focaccia bread. Other signature Panera Bread panini sandwiches include the Cuban Chicken (served with ham, pickles, Swiss cheese and sundried tomato ale mustard) and the Turkey Artichoke (stuffed with caramelized onions, Asiago cheese and spinach-artichoke spread).

On the cold sandwich menu, try the Panera Bread Chicken Salad. It's made with a delicate tangle of seedless grapes, almonds, celery and shredded chicken between slices of sesame semolina bread.

Whatever you order, be sure to get a side of their signature Panera Bread mac and cheese, made with Vermont white cheddar. It's fattening, but oh-so-good.

Lately, I've really become a fan of their breakfasts. During the morning, the Panera Bread Bakery is stocked with delicious baked goods, from sweet muffins and artisan pastries, to cinnamon crumb cakes and bagels. For an added treat, add one of their flavored cream cheeses, available in honey walnut, raspberry, sundried tomato, veggie and hazelnut blends.

The Panera Bread breakfast menu also includes strawberry granola parfaits, breakfast souffles (try the turkey sausage and potato) and a variety of breakfast egg-and-cheese sandwiches, served on ciabatta bread or a cheesy bagel with your choice of bacon or sausage. Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. weekends.

Panera Bread nutritional information is readily available online, including many calorie-counting apps for iPhone and Android.

• To view the Web-version Panera Bread nutrition calculator, click here
• For a list of Panera Bread restaurant locations, click here.
• To view the Panera Bread cookbook of recipes online, click here

Panera Bread hours of operation are 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Holidays and individual stores may vary, so call ahead to confirm.

Have you been to Panera Bread? Share your Panera Bread review below!