Du Jour: Al Himel, Our Daily Bread

Today, natural foods are everywhere, but in the early 1980s, interest in them was confined to small pockets of purists. Al Himel was an active member of the local fabric, and his commitment to the field prompted him to buy one of Baton Rouge’s first health food stores in 1989, Our Daily Bread. Since then, Himel has helped Our Daily Bread remain true to its mission as a discriminating natural foods purveyor and local producer of high-quality, everyday baked goods.

When Whole Foods Market opened in Baton Rouge in 2005, the question among local heath food store owners was how the sparkling behemoth would affect business. Himel’s outlook was – and remains — positive. “I think it’s brought into focus what we do,” he says, adding that Our Daily Bread has refined its specialty niches and its selection process for natural grocery items. An on-site bakery produces dozens of varieties of breads nearly every day of the week, many of which are delivered to locally-owned grocery stores. Our Daily Bread has been baking its signature loaves since it opened in 1982 and its baking team still relies on many original recipes. Today, the store features 16 varieties in different shapes and sizes, granola bars, stuffed rolls and more, each crafted with high nutritional content and great taste.

A slice of the original whole wheat, “Mainstay,” is well-textured and packed with a short list of natural ingredients. Its texture strikes a balance between hearty and squishy, so that everyone from finicky youngsters to fussy foodies can get behind it. Other flavors include Cinnamon Raison, savory Italian Veggie-Herb, a dense 100% whole grain Farmhouse with wheatberries and rye, and more.

Himel says Our Daily Bread’s menu (available at 9414 Florida Boulevard) was retooled last year, with more options for both vegetarians and diners on the hunt for organic meats. The café offers are changing soup specials, a new round-up of po’boys, smoothies, and daily plate lunches like vegan gumbo or grilled eggplant with portobello mushrooms. A limited menu is available at the store’s Main Street Market outpost downtown. Be on the lookout for Himel’s organic garden at the Florida Boulevard location, which takes root soon. For more info, ourdailybreadbr.com.

To read previous Du Jour features on local chefs and other culinary experts, click here.