Delicious pretzel croissants

Inside New York's Most Sustainable Bakery

For nearly two decades, Maury Rubin’s City Bakery has been “quietly green,” building a loyal New York City following on the back of its surprisingly delicious pretzel croissants and legendary hot chocolate rather than its sustainable business practices. Then, in December of 2005, Rubin opened a brand new bakery that proudly broadcast environmental friendliness in its name: Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery. Why?

“The more I think about it, the more I think George W. Bush should get the credit,” says Rubin, whose tongue is more or less permanently in cheek. “I’m a soy bean-eating, recycling-devoted, vintage clothes-wearing, used Volvo-driving, low-carbon-footprint person in the first place. Sometime during the Bush years, that administration’s intense assault on the environment left me feeling that as a business owner with a large and loyal customer base, I had a responsibility to begin talking about the environment.”

IN the city this upcoming weekend. May have to make a small jaunt down to see what Birdbath is all about - and enjoy some food too.