West Won Bread

The Family Bakery that Won Over the Napa Community

BY ELIZABETH SMITH | PHOTOS COURTESY OF WEST WON BREAD

West Won Bread is the brainchild of Kyle and Elise Kuehner. Kyle, the head baker, quit his desk job to learn the craft of artisan bread baking. He worked at various bakeries in the San Francisco Bay area for four years before relocating to Napa with Elise, where he launched the business as a certified cottage bakery from home, selling limited quantities of organic breads at the Napa Farmers Market.

As their breads quickly became a local favorite, the Kuehners outgrew their home bakery and signed a lease for a brick-andmortar location. “We feel that Napa raised our family and our business, so we wanted to create a neighborhood family bakery that reflects the nurturing community we live in,” said Elise.

Following six months of construction during the pandemic, they opened their retail location in April 2021. The name West Won Bread comes from Kyle’s childhood memories of his grandfather exclaiming about the dark, dense, and seeded hunk of bread he would have with every meal, “This is the bread that won the west!”

The Kuehners have expanded their production to offering toasts, grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, cheese boxes, spreads, and dips, ideal for picnics and winery visits. Customer favorites include their Avocado Toast with Italian Salsa Verde, Thai Peanut Salad (vegan), and Portobello and Burrata Sandwich (vegetarian).

West Won Bread uses organic whole grain flours for their bread and pastries and incorporates many ancient grains into their Khorasan, Einkorn, and Durum loaves. “Ultimately, using these ancient grains and sprouting our wheat and rye berries, as well as quinoa, are all about building flavor and utilizing the whole grain for a more nutritious, flavorful, and unique product.” All West Won breads are vegan friendly with only flour, water, salt, and additions like olives, seeds, pecans, and raisins.

Their top-selling bread is the West Won Sour, an old-world traditional countrystyle loaf using whole wheat and whole rye starters, which gives it depth of flavor and subtle sourness. The sprouted quinoa and brightly golden-colored Khorasan baguette are also popular. Also well-received is the Olive Fougasse, with kalamata olives and herbs de Provence, which is sculpted and scored in a leaf shape, making it a showstopper at any table.

The Kuehners are constantly developing new breads and other food products that utilize these alternative grains and flours for maximum flavor. They also partner with local farmers and purveyors as often as possible and shop at the farmers' markets for produce. Current partners include Naysayer Coffee Roasters, Triad Bevs, and Handsome Carver.

West Won Bread is open daily except for Mondays, 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. weekdays and 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. weekends for takeaway or indoor and outdoor seating. Their breads are also available at Browns Valley Market, Hudson Greens and Goods, Oakville Grocery, Sunshine Foods Grocery, and CalMart in Calistoga.

FOR MORE INFORMATION 1800 A Soscol Avenue, Napa, CA 94559 // 707-927-5597 // www.westwonbread.com