Charles E. Hill 
ROCHESTER — As a lover of all things baked, I don’t know how I missed Roasted Bliss, an intimate cafe south of Broadway in the former location of Dunn Brothers.
I met a friend there on a recent Saturday afternoon and was totally taken with the variety and originality of what was in the bakery’s window display. If this was new to me, how many others know? Hundreds, it turns out.
Ali Johnson, the owner of this not-so-hidden treasure, said this venture was something she had wanted for a long time. It opened in December 2019, just as the pandemic was making itself known.
“It was a challenge, but we persevered,” she said.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
Previously, she had worked all over town in one capacity or another. She owned Curves, the exercise facility, for several years before closing it. Opportunities also brought her to the Federal Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic, and other venues—none of which dealt with baking.
In every job, she reported to others and “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and really wanted to be my own boss. Also, the idea of owning a cafe has always been kind of a dream,” said- she declared.
The first step in that direction was when Johnson and her husband bought a building in St. Charles and opened the original Roasted Bliss. It turned out to be a big hit, but, adds Johnson, “St. Charles is a small town and I was hoping to attract a larger clientele, so we started looking for space in Rochester.”
When the Dunn Brothers space became available, she took it. Being a creative mind, she redesigned and redesigned the interior.
Not originally being a baker and having no baking experience, she decided she was going to be a baker. She then researched everything she could about baking on the internet, YouTube, and professional baking journals.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
Looking at and tasting one of the mouth-watering pastries in the display case, you’d think she’s a Le Cordon Bleu graduate.
“I’m completely self-taught,” Johnson said.
True, but she definitely has a knack for it.
In a relatively short time and despite COVID-19, Johnson has developed customers beyond those who walk through the doors of Roasted Bliss. Among them are Mayo Clinic departments that order baked goods as treats for staff.
Johnson has hired an associate, Stephanie Donovan, who also does the baking and runs the shop herself. Donovan already has baking experience.
These energetic women are in the store busy cooking at 3am. Johnson adds that there were times on Saturdays when if they ran out of pastries, they would start baking again.
Few bakeries do that.
So what can you choose to go with this cup of joe?
There are at least eight to ten different items, including cinnamon rolls, scones, danishes, and cupcakes.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
There are also breads available once a week, including brioche, poppyseed, jalapeno cheddar, and garlic rosemary.
They’ve also put together cookie kits for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and, of course, Christmas that include cookies, frosting tubes, and sprinkles.
And don’t forget man’s best friend. In the freezer are “cupcakes” for dogs, and they, too, are popular.
Leftover merchandise goes in a Grab Box and sells for $6.50. They never last long.
As you’d expect, Johnson and Donovan have big plans. They will supply all baked goods for Bear Paw Coffee Shop coming this spring to Byron.
They are also looking for land to build a new large facility that would include all of their pastries and breads as well as a separate area for gluten-free products. An old-fashioned confectionery and bar are also part of the plan.
Until that happens, head to Roasted Bliss and take advantage of what they offer.
We’ll see each other there.
Cafes open in 2021
Scooter Cafe, 1608 S. Broadway
Caribou, 1021 15th Ave SE
Due North Coffee, 1607 US Highway 14 East
Roast happiness
2550 S. Broadway, Suite 300
Holly Ebel, food editor of the Post Bulletin, knows what’s coming. Send comments or story tips to
.
