Pastry chef Ron Mendoza to debut Ad Astra Bread Co. in Seaside.

It promises to be a breakout year for dining in Seaside. Already on the docket are a new coffee shop, restaurant and brewery. Now add a bakery to that list.

This summer, look for Ad Astra Bread Co., a new concept from local pastry chef Ron Mendoza.

Opening inside the new Other Brother Beer Co. brewery and taproom, Ad Astra will focus on naturally leavened breads and baked goods.

“I was using Other Brother olive oil at Revival. We bonded over skateboarding. When I was taking time off, I started making bread for fun and I took some over to them, then we started talking,” recalls Mendoza.

Now, Mendoza will sublease a food stall inside the new brewery, “It’s not a restaurant. It’s like a food truck without wheels. Come grab a beer and enjoy good food.”

Local foodies are familiar with Mendoza’s sweet desserts, especially ice creams, as a founder and the original chef-partner for Revival Ice Cream. Ad Astra promises to showcase Mendoza’s talents on the savory side.

Bread will be the focus, including focaccias, country loaves and naturally fermented sourdough breads.

“Ad Astra is more than a bakery. It’s based on what we can get out of the oven,” explains Mendoza. He teases a menu inspired by visits to favorite big-city concepts like San Francisco’s Tartine Bakery, as well as Superiority Burger and Milk Bar in New York. “Simple food, done really well, with a respect for product and technique,” he emphasizes. That means a menu with Roman-style focaccia pizzas, toasts, pretzels and refined bar snacks. and, yes, ice cream—well, gelato.

But don’t come to Ad Astra looking for a coffee and croissant, “There are so many great coffee shops and bakeries in Seaside, I wanted to offer something different.” Instead, Ad Astra will be a spot for casual lunch, dinner and takeout.

Ad Astra will also have a presence at local farmers markets and eventually wholesale business too.

Mendoza sees a lot of potential for a new food community emerging on Broadway, “I’m excited to be in an environment that’s so supportive of each other. Hopefully together we’ll be able to start something really neat here.”

For more on Ad Astra Bread Co., visit adastrabread.com and follow @ad.astra.bread.co on Instagram.