With a single rack of fresh bread and a shoebox for a cash register, Wendy Smith Born and James Barrett launched Metropolitan Bakery in 1993. Fifteen years later, what began as an “experiment” between two friends—one a restaurant manager, the other a pastry chef—has grown into a Philadelphia institution.Wendy and James met while working at Philly’s legendary The White Dog Café, which, like the West Coast’s Chez Panisse, was one of the pioneering institutions of the “buy local” movement. During their time at White Dog, the two friends often lamented how difficult it was to find breads of the quality they’d tasted in Europe.Wendy and James met while working at Philly’s legendary The White Dog Café, which, like the West Coast’s Chez Panisse, was one of the pioneering institutions of the “buy local” movement. During their time at White Dog, the two friends often lamented how difficult it was to find breads of the quality they’d tasted in Europe.