You just have to walk into Mama’s Dream Bakery and Deli to know you’ve found something special!  The amazing smells that waft toward you are a combination of sweet (mmm, cinnamon rolls and cake!) and comforting (chicken noodle soup!).  Since they opened in November, Mama’s Dream Bakery and Deli has quickly become a Lincoln favorite for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their fresh baked bread, delicious wedding cakes and homemade soups.

The idea for Mama’s Dream came about when Denise Sheldon Schrader met Brenda Kruger and Pat DeBaere through an organization called I.C.E.S. (International Confectioners Exploration Society) that brings people from all over the world to meet once a year.  The three of them always talked about how great it would be to open a bakery together and, when Denise decided the time was right, her two friends agreed to join her in the venture.

Mama’s Dream Makes two different kinds of cinnamon rolls every morning, caramel and frosted, and we can attest that both varieties are equally delicious!  Large and moist, they are the type of roll that would make an excellent breakfast paired with a cup of coffee or a yummy lunch accompanied by some chili!  However, the baking doesn’t stop there!  They also bake fresh muffins, cookies, bars, cheesecake and cakes fresh every morning.  We tried their cookies and a couple of bars in addition to the cinnamon rolls and were very impressed!  If you love baked desserts, Mama’s Dream is definitely the place for you.

Of course, we all expect bakeries to have wonderful desserts.  But what about actual meals?  Mama’s Dream has a deli portion that offers sandwiches, made from scratch soups as well as breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, ham and egg bagels and breakfast BLTs.  We tried the Italian gourmet sandwich, which consists of ham, salami, provolone cheese, Italian dressing, onion, tomato and shredded lettuce on a pretzel bun as well as the grilled chicken deli sandwich served on a cheddar focaccia bun.  The highlight of both of these delicious sandwiches was the bread!  The bread was amazing—soft on the inside with just the right amount of crunchiness and perfectly seasoned.  The breads complemented the sandwich ingredients wonderfully…simply put, these are just amazing sandwiches!

As far as soups go, you’ll have quite a challenge finding comfort food types of soup that are better than Mama’s!  We tried the cheesy potato with wild rice and the chicken noodle soup (available in individual portions or in larger containers for takeout).  I’ve never been a big fan of chicken noodle soup, but I couldn’t get enough of this one!  Homemade noodles, tender pieces of chicken in a flavorful broth…perfect for those cold winter days or when you’re feeling a bit under the weather.  Superb!  Mama’s Dream offers a different made-from-scratch soup every day, so keep checking back to see what’s new!

One of the best things about Mama’s Dream is that you can get pretty much anything on their menu any time of day (they are open Monday through Friday from 6 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 3:30 pm) except for the soup (which they begin serving at 11 am each day).  This means that if you’re craving biscuits and gravy for lunch, you can have it or you’d rather have a scrumptious sandwich for a mid morning snack, all you have to do is ask!

Mama’s Dream Bakery and Deli is simply wonderful food cooked by skilled artists (who happen to also be extremely nice people!).  Consider them for lunch, a take-out dinner for the family or if you know someone who is getting married, Mama’s Dream makes some of the most delicious wedding cakes in town!

Come in and visit Mama’s Dream Bakery and Deli at:
219 N. 19th St, Ste B
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-261-4863
http://www.mamas-dream.com/