I ordered some Low Carb Bread from Julian Bakery a few weeks ago. It was Friday, July 1st to be exact. I just got it on Tuesday of this week (July 19th). Partly their fault, partly my request.
They weren’t able to ship it within a week of my order, and I was traveling the week they wanted to finally send it – so I asked them to hold off until the Monday I returned.
They baked it and shipped it, and it arrived the next day. I’m not sure why that couldn’t happen the week I ordered it…
First, I wouldn’t recommend ordering low carb bread online in the heat of the summer. Especially if you live on the opposite coast like I do. Julian Bakery is in La Jolla, CA and I am in middle TN. My bread arrived hot, and sweating inside it’s plastic wrapper – so I had to immediately remove it, cool it down, and rewrap it.
I ordered two different loaves:
Smart Carb #1 Bread (1 Net Carb) – $7.99
Smart Carb #2 (Cinnamon Raisin) (2 Net Carbs) – $7.99
The cheapest shipping option was UPS 2nd Day Air for $18.95 (more than my order 😛 lol), bringing my total order to just under $35 for only two loaves of bread…
I decided it was worth it, even though I wasn’t craving bread at all after almost 90 days on a low carb diet. But I did want to test it out since so many of my friends asked me about it.
When I took it out of the bag to dry it out, I could tell right away that it was “crumbly”. Especially the Smart Carb #1 (their most popular “regular bread”).
The Cinnamon Raisin low carb bread didn’t seem quite as crumbly. So the next morning when I woke up hungry, I popped a couple of slices into the toaster and then lathered them with butter.
Not bad. Maybe if I close my eyes, tune out the whole world, and concentrate… I’m pretty sure I can taste pine needles in there. Still, it’s edible, and it made an easy breakfast in a pinch.
If you want to know the honest truth, I’d rather spend 30 bucks on a Quest Bars or something else I LIKE. But that’s just me. If you’re on a low carb diet, and you are truly craving bread… check out The Great Low Carb Bread Company instead. It’s MUCH better! It actually tastes like bread, instead of the yard.
(My friend was here today, and decided to try a slice of the Cinnamon Raisin Low Carb Bread… and ended up feeding it to the dog instead 🙂 LOL…)
Thanks for the review Lynn! That’s a whole lotta dough to spend on bread. 😛
In looking at the ingredients, aside from the sprouted whole wheat, the rest looks very much like what my friend Kathy makes in her gluten-free eating. A combo of other types of flours.
I’ll see if I can get her gluten free bread recipe and run it through my Master Cook software to get the nutritionally info to see how low in carbs that is. Might be alternative for you (or someone else) who would want to make their own. 😉
I agree. For the price you should *really* enjoy it! Making your own is probably the best option. I look forward to hearing what you find out about your friends recipe!
Thanks a bunch for doing a review of the Julian’s bread! I almost ordered a loaf the day you posted about it on FB but decided to wait until I heard from you on how you liked it.
I’m not low carb but I am gluten-free, so I may give her gluten free bread a try. Hopefully it will be a little less crumbly that the low carb 🙂
Thanks again for the review!
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on it. If it was inexpensive and I could get it when I want it (not a week or more later – after paying for 2nd day air) I might consider trying other items from Julian Bakery. But at that price, it really has to knock your socks off in my opinion.
It’s not bad, like I said, and I’ll make good use of it. I just don’t see myself ordering again anytime soon. I did just place my order at The Cheesecake Factory though. 😉
Thank you for doing this review, Lynn. I’m just sorry that you and I didn’t have a better experience. I’m in Florida and ordered my bread on Wednesday and received it on Friday. Like yours, mine arrived hot and sweaty with a low carb chocolate bar melted all over one of the loaves. You’d have thought they’d send chocolate with a cool pack, especially to Florida. Oh well, a positive is that I really did enjoy the Cinnamon Raisin bread. I’d toast it and spread a little cream cheese and it really hit the bread craving spot for me. BUT, the first loaf was much better than the second. After freezing and defrosting, the second loaf broke and crumbled leaving me with bits and pieces to stick in the toaster. I’m not going to order again. I figure I can find something comparable at Whole Foods or somewhere at a much better cost :p
At least you really did receive yours in 2 days. Considering what we paid for 2nd Day Air shipping – my wait was ridiculous. What a shame that your order came all sweaty too, and with melted chocolate even. What a mess! They definitely need a cooling pack or a different shipping system…
Tonight I tried the Smart Carb #1 Bread. I expected it to fall apart since it was the more crumbly one when it arrived, but it did hold together. I toasted it in the oven (garlic cheese bread).
Dwaine was over for dinner and had a piece too. I said “it still tastes a little crumbly” – to me it was dry, and easy to choke on (lol – don’t breathe in while chewing it!). He said it was “gritty” which was an interesting observation. I couldn’t disagree.
As for the taste. Earthy. Like dirt maybe. Not necessarily in a bad way. Just earthy. Minus the pine needles. 🙂 lol…
During the Summer we have two ways you can save using our $5 Off Promo Code 1776 “OR” If you buy 6 or more UPS 2 Day is $15.00. When temperatures cool down we offer UPS Ground nationwide for $5.95! Thank you so much for your review!
Ahh, that’s good to know. Definitely a better rate in the cooler months. Thank you for sharing that, and the promo code too.
I did end up finishing both of my loaves. It made great cheese toast, and it was nice to have a peanut butter & jelly sandwich again (with natural peanut butter & sugar free blackberry jelly).
I think “low carb bread” is an acquired taste for those of us that are used to “white bread” (and brown variations of it – lol).
WARNING: DO NOT BUY FROM THIS PLACE!!!!!
I purchased two orders of Paleo Bread. The Almond and the Cocunut,. I ordred it on the 10th and didn’t receive it until the following month on the 3rd. When i received my bread the Almond bread was moldy!!! The cocunut bread was steamed in the bag and smelled bad when i opened it. Neither loafs were edibale!! I paid just under $35.00 for two loafs of bread (includes shipping) and i didn’t even get to enjoy it because as I mentioned it was not edible. I called the bakry and left several messages. To my surprise they never called back, I advised them on my messages that the bread was moldy and both loafs where not ediable, what kind of buisness does not return a phone call like that. JULIAN BAKERY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE BUISNESS THEY ARE RUNNING!
I’m glad I say your review for this. I was going to try their breads, but I think I will try the bread mixes on Hold the Carbs website or recipes instead. I plan on getting a bread making machine soon.
I do like the bread mix on HoldtheCarbs.com It didnt stall my weight loss either. 😉 I’m really learning to live totally without breads though, and happier for it!
I’d have to look back at my notes, but I had a REALLY BAD shipping experience with them as well which was crazy given the cost. Also, working for myself and bending over backwards to make things right when I mess up with a client, I was very frustrated with the lack of concern or even acknowledgement of their role in the problem from Julian Bakery.
Other than that, I did like the bread well enough. It was nice to have a sandwich again. I felt the slices were a little thick, but the taste was good. I used the cinnamon bread for french toast and enjoyed it quite a bit. 🙂
Of course, now I have concerns on the actual “low carb” claim. Sigh. Wish it were easier. But like you, I’m just getting used to not even having breads. I do buy some of the flat breads and low carb tortillas, but I’m finding myself using them less and less.
It’s funny how your taste buds change. And so quickly if you are in Ketosis – it amazes me how things don’t appeal anymore, appetite decreases, etc. Of course, a little bit of (the wrong) carbs, and those cravings come right back – which is why it’s important to just avoid the “bites” altogether. 😛
Ha. I’m a fan of the bites. But to be honest it seems I have a harder time with the willpower and cravings when I’m not feeling well. I want comfort food. And comfort food=carbs for me. Trying to work around that.
I have bought Julian Bread a couple of times in the winter season – 6 loaves for $5.95 shipping.
Now I keep seeing Julian Bread company post that if you buy 6 loaves you can get shipping at $5.95. I understand when they say they must only do $15.95 2-day shipping in the summer months to many states because of the heat.
However, in early Jan 2013, I contacted them as the web site would not give me the reasonable $5.95 shipping rate. Would only allow me the $15.95 shipping rate in the winter for 6 loaves.
I explained that in Northern Florida we were having temperatures in the 30s and 40s in January and their ad said summer months for 2 day shipment.
They informed me that even though it was winter in my area code, I HAD to pay the 2-day $15.95 shipping. They are not giving correct advertisement and this is WAY TOO MUCH MONEY for shipment in the winter plus pay $7.95 a loaf. I was VERY disappointed in them.