California eatery goes beyond coffee, tea; launches bacon bar

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- We've all seen coffee bars, tea bars and even some bread bars, but a bacon bar is something new.

"The first thing they do is walk in the door and say, 'Where's the bacon bar?'" said the CEO of Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery and Cheese Affinage, Mac Gregory.

Gregory said they've got all kinds of food, including exotic cheeses, beer and wine, but the swine is the selling point.

"I would say 80 percent of the skinny girls are the ones ordering bacon," said executive chef Jay Bogsinske.

Bogsinske said bacon is America's alarm clock as the fabulous aroma wakes up our taste buds. But rather than a rasher of bacon, this eatery sells it by the slice.

"Everyone puts bacon in something. For us, we're saying have a slice of bacon," said Gregory.

Tap on a tablet and order one of 11 signature slices: Coffee rub, habanero, paprika and more. Gregory said the best-selling flavor is the apple pie.

For the health conscious, there's non-cured, nitrate-free Zoe's Applewood and a handful of others.

"We're tugging and pulling on the palate so we like those flavor combinations," said Bogsinske.

They also wrap bacon around water chestnuts, jalapeno's, artichokes and dates.

For sharing, the bar offers a grand selection.

"We also do a swine board that feature four signature bacon. It will be different every time you order it," said Bogsinske.

Depending on how you slice it, bacon is about 46 calories, 30 percent protein and 70 percent fat.

Nutrition experts remind us low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets tend to have a greater effect on fat storage hormones. So when it comes to high-fat food, eat less, but eat the best.

The end result should have you fuller with more stable blood sugar to be able to go longer periods without being hungry.

So, perhaps a slice is nice.

"Our menu's like Disneyland -- you can't try everything once," said Gregory. "You got to come back and try it another time."