A Scenic Stop for Breads, Pies and Pantry Finds at Swiss Pantry

A fried fruit pie is a fine reason to pull off Highway 64. At Swiss Pantry in the Belvidere area, the bakery case gives a road trip a pleasant detour, with homemade breads, donuts, cakes, cookies, full-sized pies and those portable, individually wrapped fried pies that travel nicely in the car.

The store has the easygoing usefulness of a country pantry, but browsing it can turn into a longer visit than expected. Come in for a loaf or a sweet treat, and it is easy to leave with sandwich fixings, candy, a dip mix, something for dinner and a gift for somebody back home.

The drive itself is part of the appeal. Swiss Pantry fits neatly into an outing that includes nearby Falls Mill, turning a scenic stretch of road into a day with baked goods, a made-to-order lunch and a bag of foodstuffs that are more interesting than standard convenience-store supplies.

Fresh baking is the center of the store. Everyday loaves sit alongside more distinctive options, including cheddar-jalapeno bread, cinnamon-raisin bread and sourdough. The sourdough has enough chew to stand up well in a grilled cheese, with melted cheese finding its way into all those nooks and holes.

The fried pies make an especially handy road snack. Pecan, apricot and strawberry have all appeared among the choices, and their individual wrapping makes them easy to take along without committing to a whole pie at once.

For a sit-down dessert at home, there are also old-fashioned fruit pies and flavors such as Key lime, pecan and strawberry. The lineup is broader than a single signature item, which is useful when one person is set on a fruit pie and another has their eye on something rich and creamy.

Do not pass the oatmeal cream pies too quickly. They sandwich a creamy filling between cinnamon-scented oatmeal cookies that land in the appealing middle ground between soft and crisp. It is a familiar treat with more bakery-counter personality than the packaged version.

On the first and third Saturdays of the month, Swiss Pantry holds Donut Saturdays. It is a recurring date worth putting on the calendar for people who prefer an old-fashioned bakery stop to a drive-through breakfast.

Strawberry, maple and chocolate donuts have been among the varieties. Advance orders can be placed for pickup, a useful option when donuts are the main mission rather than an incidental addition to the shopping basket.

Schedules and daily bakery selections can change, so it is sensible to verify the donut plan before making a special trip. Once there, though, the donut stop can easily become lunch and a pantry browse.

Swiss Pantry also serves made-to-order deli-style sandwiches and soups. Sandwiches are prepared to order, allowing the lunch counter to work for a quick stop as well as a leisurely break in the middle of a drive.

The Lebanon bologna sandwich is one of the more distinctive choices, and it has also appeared as a breakfast-sandwich variation. That regional deli meat gives the menu a little more character than a predictable ham-and-cheese lineup.

Other options have included a spicy Cajun sandwich and grilled cheese. Pair a sandwich with a bakery loaf, chips or a drink from the store, and lunch can be as simple or as generously supplied as you want it to be.

The grocery shelves make room for the practical basics of a good kitchen: flours, baking chocolate, toppings, cornmeal, pancake mix and grits. Some of the cornmeal, pancake mix and grits come from nearby Falls Mill, a nice local connection when the two stops are part of the same day.

Then the shelves wander into more unusual territory. Maple bacon jam, preserved fruits and vegetables, pickles, sorghum and beef tallow suet all offer possibilities for a cook who enjoys keeping something a little unexpected in the pantry.

The refrigerated selections add fresh cheeses, meats and craft seltzer to the mix. It is a useful place to assemble the makings of a casual meal, particularly if the bakery bread has already made its way into your basket.

The dip mixes are compact enough to slip into a gift bag or keep around for last-minute entertaining. Each comes with instructions for combining the seasonings, and flavors have included dill, bacon ranch, lemon cheesecake and caramel apple. The savory choices suit a party spread; the dessert-leaning ones invite a little experimenting.

Candy and snacks provide another reason to circle the shelves slowly. White-chocolate cashew caramel clusters, dark-chocolate mini mints, crunchy mixed vegetable chips and old-fashioned candies make a good assortment for a car ride or a household snack drawer.

There are also products that are simply fun to discover, including beef tallow skincare items. Along with food gifts, baking supplies and pantry goods, they give the store the appealing unpredictability of a place where a useful errand can produce a small surprise.

The general mood is quiet enough for conversation, and the staff is known for a hospitable welcome. A free coffee offering is a small, thoughtful touch when the visit calls for taking a few minutes rather than rushing right back to the road.

Parking is free and plentiful, which takes some friction out of a stop with several bags to carry. The interior can feel cramped when it is busy, especially on a bakery-focused visit, but the abundance of shelves is also what makes the browsing worthwhile.

No reservations are generally needed for lunch. A sandwich, soup, a fried pie for later and a few pantry discoveries can turn a simple Highway 64 stop into a nicely stocked ride home.