Blackbird Bakery and Cafe will be hosting a visit from America's Best Restaurants

America’s Best Restaurants (ABR), a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on March 11.

Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owners Harry and Emily Paul about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

The bakery and cafe was nominated to be on the Roadshow by customer and fan Lindsey Laird.

“This small town American bakery came to rural Staunton and delivered the quality of pastry and sandwich you would expect in a big city,” Laird wrote in her nomination. “They make Instagram ready treats both unique and delicious. But, their sandwiches are some of the best I've ever had!”

The Pauls got involved baking for the community for a Beatles-themed festival and fundraiser in nearby Prairietown. The success of that endeavor led to regular business at a local farmers market, and then opening the brick-and-mortar, named after the Beatles song, in 2018.

Harry was a chef at a local restaurant, but left that to help with the lunch service at the cafe, which has continued to grow.

Popular menu items that may be featured on the episode include the ham and Swiss or chocolate croissants, all of which are made from scratch. Harry notes the chicken salad gets rave reviews, as do their sandwiches on homemade bread that they run on special, such as the French dip, Reuben, Italian beef, or TCB (turkey, cheddar, and bacon).

Overall the Pauls want the message of their episode to showcase their story and illustrate the dedication they have to their craft and to their community.

“It’s just so much hard work to do all of this, so much dedication and a lot of passion,” Emily explains. “I do want people to know we’re just regular working-class people and we put our best foot forward every day trying to make the best product that we can. Everything's made from scratch, everything is made with love.”

America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Monday March 11th from 2 pm to 5 pm CST. The press is invited to attend. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/illinois/blackbird-bakery-caf%C3%A9.

Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are found through customer nominations or by a restaurant applying to be featured at http://www.americasbestrestaurants.com.

About Blackbird Bakery & Cafe: Open Tuesday through Saturday, Blackbird Bakery & Cafe is located at 123 E Main St, Staunton IL 62088. Telephone is (618) 635-2288. For more information visit http://www.blackbirdbakeryandcafe.com.

About ABR: America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and restaurant marketing company based in Florence, KY, travels the country telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 1000 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their story broadcast coast-to-coast. Visit AmericasBestRestaurants.com to learn more and to view the episodes and profiles of hundreds of America’s Best Restaurants.