Brown's Court Bakery Opens, Debuts Sriracha Croissants

Charleston's carbohydrate landscape is forever altered now that Brown's Court Bakery is open in the building that housed shuttered cult-favorite cafe Hope and Union. Owner David Schnell, formerly at H&F Bread Co. in Atlanta, and pastry chef Katie Schoenherr are baking loaves and confections that aren't exactly commonplace in the Holy City, like pretzel bread, milk bread and, yes, sriracha croissants. Purists shouldn't freak out; there's also more standard fare on the menu, like banana nut muffins.

Hope and Union was famous for their pricey, pour-over coffee, but Schnell says he's putting less of an emphasis on that preparation. The baristas are making espresso drinks, and Counter Culture Coffee is the brand of choice.

The dining area has also expanded, with the notoriously under-utilized second floor now converted into a cozy place to sit and eat. Schnell isn't a fan of day-old baked goods, so keep an eye out for a possible bread happy hour in the evenings. Brown's Court Bakery will also be delivering their oven candy to wholesale customers downtown in a Dutch-style tricycle. It's an eco-friendly cute overload.

· Hope and Union: The Shutter [ECHS]