By: Wendy Weitzel for Davis Farmers Market
At the Davis Farmers Market, there are the loyal shoppers and the loyal sellers. Aziz Fattahi is both.
Fattahi owns Village Bakery, which sells breads, pastries, muffins and croissants every Saturday at the farmers market. But he lets his employees do the selling, because he’s usually busy filling his wagon full of farm-fresh produce for his restaurant and bakery.
The Village Bakery store is at 814 Second St. in downtown Davis. Later this year, he plans to move it to the former Uncle Vito’s space at 524 Second St. He also owns Village Pizza & Pints at 236 B St., across Third Street from the market, as well as a wholesale production bakery on Spafford Street.
Fattahi has been selling at the farmers market since 1997, when he wanted to expose more people to his naturally fermented artisan breads and baguettes. “It’s good business … a good market,” he said.
He doesn’t work the market stand anymore but he loves the feedback. “To this day, I hear people commenting how much they like the breads and are glad we are in Davis.”
Specialties include cheese breads, levain, ciabattas, pastries, sticky buns and croissants – some with fillings like custard or Nutella. The most popular item on Saturday mornings is the custard-filled croissants with berries.
Fattahi is picky about what he makes and what he sells. “I have my taste and my background, and how I see food. I try to make whatever variety the best I can. I don’t skimp on quality. I get the good stuff. If it costs more, you just have to raise your prices. I have to like it, and I have kind of a high standard for that.”
He says that’s exactly why he shops at the farmers market when he can. “It’s a little higher price but it’s better quality. I want (my food) to be the best I can do.”
Growing up in Iran, he only knew fresh food. He didn’t eat processed or packaged stuff. “You develop a taste for fresh ingredients and food made with the freshest ingredients. I’m sure it affects my view of everything food wise.”
His wife is Italian, and they travel to Italy a lot. “I copy things that I see there and like a lot. I’m lucky I have a good palette and can taste things other people don’t – or don’t appreciate. I appreciate good flavors. My customers probably have the same kind of taste in food.”
Fattahi likes shopping at the Davis Farmers Market “because it’s good products. It’s local, directly from the farmers. The quality is very, very good. And it’s fresh – as fresh as it can be.”
He especially loves the bounty of summertime, saying, “I wish the summer season lasted longer.”
Fattahi buys heirloom and cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce greens for his salads, and enjoys the eggplants for pizzas and dips. “The Chinese purple eggplants are very good and have a lot of flavor.”
He makes drinks with the citrus, and uses basil and other herbs for pizzas and bruschetta. He also enjoys the melons, broccoli, cabbage and potatoes.
“It just makes me feel good that I’m getting something local, also,” he said. “But the quality is better than I can get (elsewhere).”
Village Bakery
Find them at the Davis Farmers Market every Saturday, rain or shine.
Owner: Aziz Fattahi
Businesses: When it’s not the Saturday morning market, you can shop at Village Bakery at 814 Second St. in Davis. It’s moving soon to a larger space downtown, at 524 Second St. (former home to Uncle Vito’s). Fattahi owns a wholesale production bakery on Spafford Street, and Village Pizza & Pints at 236 B St., across Third Street from the Davis Farmers Market.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vpgbakery/
Davis Farmers Market
Central Park, Fourth and C streets, Davis
Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round
Wednesdays: 4 to 8 p.m. May through September for Picnic in the Park; 3 to 6 p.m. October through April
Captions:
Aziz Fattahi loads his wagon with Davis Farmers Market produce for his restaurant, Village Pizza & Pints. He also owns Village Bakery, which sells breads and pastries at the Saturday market. (Randii MacNear/Courtesy photo)
Village Bakery offers a wide variety of breads and pastries each Saturday at the Davis Farmers Market. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)
