Bomb Diggity Bakery & Café is more than just stellar food with unique pairings and clever names, it provides a positive work environment for people of all abilities. Bomb Diggity means awesomeness in its purest form, according to the Urban Dictionary.
Bomb Diggity was
created five and a half years ago with the intention and goal to employ people
with disabilities. The business started out in Portland as a wholesale bakery.
It made a name for itself selling its fresh baked goods to businesses. Less
than a year ago, the parent company that owns Bomb Diggity, Momentum, decided
to open the café in Windham.
“We have multiple
goals,” said Dennis Strout, director at Momentum. “We provide exceptional food
to the community and we use local and organic ingredients whenever possible. We
also focus on what people can do, not what they can’t do.”
The food they
serve comes from local farms. They use cage free eggs, whole wheat from Aurora
Mills in Northern Maine, they use local distributors who carry local produce
and all the meats they serve are Boar’s Head brand.
“We offer culture
and an option for food. We want you to come here because the food is killer,”
Strout said.
Bomb Diggity
serves Coffee by Design and makes their own coffee flavoring syrups. House-made
breads and English muffins are steadfast popular items and can be purchased to
take home. They also have a grab and go breakfast warmer for those mornings
when there’s no time to wait.
“We are always
trying to create and recreate ourselves. The staff is extremely tight as a
team,” said Strout. At each staff meeting, which happens quarterly, the group
focuses on who they are, what they are about and what their future goals are.
“As a company who
works with adults of all abilities, we keep a very positive atmosphere for our
customers and employees. We’re happy, real, upbeat and relaxed for everyone who
enters our doors,” said employee Katie Cleaves. “I’m happier in this job. They
enabled and encouraged me to be involved in what goes on.”
The bakery and
café has 13 employees. From bakers to dishwashers to front of the house, the
team works together regardless of their abilities. Some employees have a
support person who works with them.
Starting Sunday,
October 18th Bomb Diggity will serve brunch all day on the weekends. Some of
the items planned by general manager Meara Smith are house-made breads, huevos
rancheros, eggs benedict, lunch burritos, seasonal salads, coffee drinks, hot
cider and much, much more.
“Meara gets all of
it, from the people to the food to the mission and passion,” said Strout.
The most popular
item on the menu is the Frye’s Leap with Boar’s Head turkey, Cabot cheddar,
Chipotle mayo and house made focaccia bread, according to Smith. Her favorite
is the coffee, but second is the Foothill Fury and the breakfast burrito.
“Everyone loves
our cinnamon rolls,” said baker Emily Symonds. She also said that she loves the
blueberry lemon scones with lemon glaze and now the apple turnovers made with
fresh puff pastry.
Right now the menu
at Bomb Diggity features seasonal goodies. Smith listens to the community and
customers on what they want to see on the menu. There are also daily specials.
Symonds is
creative with her baking and plans to make more seasonal items that will change
almost every day from pumpkin scones to seasonal pies, which can be ordered for
take home.
The
hours are changing on October 18. Visit Bomb Diggity at
www.bombdiggitybakery.com or on Facebook. <
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