So, I’ve been familiar with Verve’s great drinks—including espresso drinks like a smooth Americano, and the unique Bowl of Soul (tea latte with soy and honey) for a long time. And the Manresa Bread pastries they carry are divine (almond escargot anyone?). But now that I’ve tasted it, I wonder how I have been surviving without their avocado toast. It is amazing!
The earthy levain bread has a perfect texture. Cultured butter serves as the base, and then mashed avocado, sliced radish, and pickled shallots are layered on top. I love the sharpness of the shallots against the creaminess of the avocado. This dish is not only delectable, but also very visually appealing.
I enjoyed this treat at the 41st Avenue location, and I had a chance to speak with manager Malaya Gold soon afterwards. I was curious about the toast’s history. “Verve started serving avocado toast in 2016,” said Malaya. “We were the first cafe in Santa Cruz to feature what has now become such a popular item.”
Avocado toast is the top-selling savory food item at the 41st Ave. café. Malaya, who is personally a big fan of this avocado toast, wanted to share a ‘pro tip’ with my readers: add a poached egg. “The addition of the egg elevates the toast, and it’s so fun popping the egg.” You can also get the avocado toast as a bowl—same toppings but instead of on toast it’s over a bed of arugula. Both of these variations sound intriguing to me; I will try one of them in the very near future and mention the bowl option to my gluten-free friends.
In addition to the 816 41st Ave. location, you can find the avocado toast at Verve’s 1540 Pacific Ave. and 1010 Fair Ave. locations (but not the 104 Bronson St. branch).
Learn more about Verve Coffee Roasters including café hours at vervecoffee.com. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @vervecoffee.
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