Pretzel buns are exquisite.

My love for them really took off after our visit to Manna European Bakery & Deli, where we made a strategic (read: hangover) stop on our way out of St. John’s. We’d been told we HAD to stop in for one of their locally famous breaded chicken sandwiches.

The bakery has specialized in bread and baked goods for over 25 years, but also serves as a retail space for European and specialty goods, a deli, and a 24-seat café.

The owners, Christopher and Jonathan Rusted, are committed to using and selling high-quality ingredients. Christopher Rusted actually accepted a RANL (Restaurant Association of Newfoundland and Labrador) Hall of Fame award in recognition for his 30+ years in the industry at the ‘From This Rock’ dinner the night before.

Their chicken sandwiches sell out every single day during the café’s busy lunch rush, which made us feel incredible lucky to acquire a couple. The soft pretzel buns are topped with a generous spread of pesto, mayo, breaded chicken, and your choice of cheese and other veggies. I’m annoyed at myself for that description, because you’re probably thinking “Great, it’s a pesto chicken sandwich, and I can literally find those on EVERY single menu.”

Trust me, you can’t. Not this one.

This was absolutely the best way to start our long drive home. We couldn’t help but devour these sandwiches. As the attentive passenger, I took breaks from mine to feed Lindsay hers so she could focus on the road, a touching display of teamwork.

It’s unfortunate we have not been able to fill the pretzel bun void that Manna Bakery created, but our search will continue, and maybe we’ll just find ourselves back in St. John’s. Thank you, Manna Bakery for making this drive a whole not more memorable.

Westward, ho!

-DV