Over Easy Breakfast Bars

Sometimes, I'm amazed at how large specific markets can be.  Like those for grab-n-go bars.  Sure, some are geared towards breakfast, others for sustained energy while hiking, others are high protein, some sound like candy bars, they can be soft, chewy, or dense, etc, etc, but, seriously, so many brands.  I've tried quite a few.

Over Easy is yet another entry in this category, geared at breakfast in particular, and featuring, as you may have guessed, eggs.  Or, egg whites at least.  

"Complete morning nutrition for full body and brain health.  Made from wholesome and nutrient dense ingredients, our products have been designed to give your body exactly what you need to start your day right, every single morning."

They are also gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, yadda yadda.  They produce 3 product lines: breakfast bars, minis, and shakes.

Breakfast Bars

"The ultimate morning bar: organic oats & cage-free egg whites for your brain body."

The breakfast bars come in 6 flavors: peanut butter, peanut butter dark chocolate, apple cinnamon, oatmeal raisin, toasted coconut, and banana nut.  I tried three different flavors and didn't really care for any, mostly just due to the style of bar.

Banana Nut.

"Same great traditional breakfast flavor, in a convenient bar."

The first bar I tried was the banana nut, which, back in the day, used to be my muffin of choice.  I was interested to see how it translated into a bar.

Like all the Over Easy bars, the base of this is oats, and of course the signature egg white, along with honey for sweetener.  It was much like any other chewy style granola bar, although considerably wider, and less cloyingly sweet.  A slightly more wholesome seeming granola bar, and one geared for adults, size-wise.

The "nut" element of banana nut comes from almonds, both chunks and almond butter that helps bind it.  The banana is dried banana, but I barely tasted it.  The nuts added a bit of crunch to the otherwise chewy bar.  

Overall, I found this pretty boring. I didn't taste the banana, and the nut added texture, but not much flavor either.  Basically, just a big, average, chewy granola bar.  It was an easy option for breakfast though, and one that didn't leave me feeling quite as weighed down as an actual banana nut muffin, and with 9 grams of protein that was a nice touch.  I wouldn't get it again though.  ***.

Apple Cinnamon.

"Packed with quality ingredients for long lasting, sustainable energy throughout your morning."

Next I went for another breakfast vibes inspired flavor, apple cinnamon, which I hoped would remind me of morning oats, but in bar form.

Like the banana nut, it had the same wider than normal granola bar shape, and chewy base of oats, egg whites, almonds, honey, and almond butter.  It also had bits of equally chewy dried apple and a hint of cinnamon.  It had a touch more flavor from the apple and cinnamon, but the flavor was fairly muted, and it still just ate too chewy for me.  **+.

Peanut Butter.

"The simplicity of peanut butter and oats in the perfect protein packed bar."

I saved the best for last it seems.  I still didn't particularly like it, but I didn't mind finishing this one.  

The peanut butter bar is a very simple bar, just the oats/honey/egg white base, and peanuts/peanut butter.  It tastes reasonably like peanut butter.  I like peanut butter.  It is still a dense, chewy bar though, and not a style I care for, and the flavor falls pretty flat past the peanut butter.  I wanted to dunk it in chocolate, or even in yogurt, just, something to jazz it up a bit.

The best of the three varieties I tried, for me.  I suspect the dark chocolate one would be more my style, as it at least has chocolate chunks in it too.  ***.

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Bake Sum

Bake Sum is the story of a successful pandemic born business.  Started by a pastry chef who made weekly boxes as a way to get through the pandemic, and grew to a small boutique bakery located in Oakland, where you can visit in-person a few hours a day.  They also supply to a few coffee shops, and have drop locations around the Bay Area for weekly boxes, which are still a focus for the bakery.  Boxes are $38, and contain both sweet and savory items, a mix of danishes, buns, cookies, mochi bites, cakes, and more.  

"A modern bakery with Asian American influenced viennoiserie, cakes, and pastries. Our pastries are always fun, beautiful, creative, and above all delicious."

As a lover of all baked goods, I've had my eye on Bake Sum for a while.  The menu changes monthly, although there are some classics that stick around more.  Flavors are full of Asian flair, with ube, lychee, hojicha, black sesame, and the like.  I've been drawn in by nearly everything on the menu.  The menu is dominantly sweet, but I've actually only tried the savory, as I discovered Bake Sum at a opening reception for a benefit gala, and it was savory only.  Given how fantastic my savory item were, and how great the sweet lineup sounds, I can't wait to try more.

Okonomiyaki Danish (mini).

"Inspired by the Japanese pancake, Okonomiyaki, this danish is topped with a veggie mornay and finished with Kewpie Mayonnaise, Okonomiyaki sauce, furikake, and bonito flakes."

This was the (savory) item I was most excited to try.  I love okonomiyaki in general, and I certainly love quality pastry, and it sounded fabulous.  And, indeed, it was.

First, the pastry.  This needs a special mention, as it was stunning.  The lamination was top notch.  So flaky.  Perfectly crisp.  So rich and buttery.  Excellent, excellent pastry.  The pastry alone made me want to try all the Bake Sum danish/croissant line up, as it is clear this pastry team has skill.

The toppings were even more flavorful than I had hoped they'd be.  The creamy mornay took the place of what would often be a cream cheese filling in a sweet danish, and the okonomiyaki sauce and kewpie mayo (yes!) both added to the creaminess and packed it full of flavor.  Very savory, very umami, and very complex.  Of course the furikake and bonito flakes amped up the flavors even more.

This was a delight to eat, a very successful interpretation of okonomiyaki into pastry form.  If I were to change one thing, I might add a touch of pickled ginger, or perhaps cabbage, just to give it one more dimension, but it wasn't actually needed.  I'd gladly have enough of these.  This world needs more Japanese danishes. ****.

Mini Danishes: Okonomiyaki (left), Aloo Matar (right).

"Filled with a tomato sauce and mornay of peas and spices, we top this Danish with roasted potatoes, yogurt and a mild mint & cilantro chutney."

I also tried the Indian danish, inspired by aloo matar.  The base was just like the okonomiyaki danish, a truly fabulous, well laminated, intensely buttery, crispy danish.  Top notch, again.  

I thought the okonomiyaki danish was flavorful, but this one was just as flavorful, if not more.  The little dollop of chutney, the spiced peas, the yogurt ... wow!  The complex spices really made this a flavor powerhouse, so unexpected given their small quantities, but, it packed such a punch.  It made me want to ditch my regular naan next time I get Indian cuisine, and just dunk a buttery croissant in my curry instead ...

Another great success, and I'm honestly not sure which I preferred more.  Both very unique, both very successful, and both very true to representing the dishes they are based on.  ****.

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