Ramon’s Bakery

Ramon’s Bakery in Utica

I had a moment of nostalgia driving down Culver Avenue toward Albany Street. The bakery is right near the National Guard Armory, where I drilled one weekend a month for two years after my stint in the regular army. Ramon’s was not there during my Guard time. I’m not saying I would have re-upped if they had been, but it would have been a selling point.

I was actually hesitant to go to a bakery – especially one known for their half-moons! I have been struggling with my weight, and I really cannot be trusted in these places. Still, readers of Mohawk Valley Living might be interested. A journalist has a certain duty, after all. I arrived late Sunday after they had had a very busy morning. The lady behind the counter told me their selection was not nearly as good as it had been earlier in the day, but I still found plenty to tempt my taste buds.

One slice of breakfast pizza remained. That looked good! Racks on the other opposite wall held buns and loaves of Italian bread. Mmmmm…. I was also interested in a case of foods in containers: macaroni and potato salads, pasta dishes, and what looked like meat rolls of some kind. I found out they were pepperoni rolls. That was for me! Yes, yes, I am sure pepperoni has just as many calories as pastries. I’ll go for a longer run tomorrow.

I was also tempted to get a hot chocolate bomb – just add warm milk. I expect I will go back and pick up a few when the

Tucked beside Family Dollar on Albany Street in Utica, Ramon’s Bakery is quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite

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weather gets cold. I might also try that breakfast pizza!

Ramon’s offers cakes, breads, pastries, tomato pie, and more. They are home to the “donnoli,” a cross between a doughnut and a cannoli, something else I will have to try. They also offer all kinds of special orders: birthday cakes, strawberry-filled donuts, and pastry tables for weddings. I discovered that they were previously housed in a food truck. The tremendous response to their food truck encouraged owner Ramon Zayas to invest in a brick-andmortar location, and by the look of their picked-over shelves, people are just as enthusiastic about the storefront! Zayas (who served four years active duty in the Marine Corps) also added an offering of deli lunches to-go that includes Spanish rice, meatloaf and potatoes, homemade mac and cheese, goulash, homemade chicken pot pies, and tuna noodle casserole.

If you ever find yourself in the Utica area, or even a 20-mile radius, be sure to stop in this wonderful bakery. Just get there before everyone else does! •

Ramon’s Bakery 1256 Albany St., Utica • 315-790-5200 Open Wednesday through Sunday 7am to 2pm, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Cynthia M. Quackenbush, a.k.a. “Mohawk Valley Girl,” writes a daily blog about her everyday adventures in the Mohawk Valley. Follow her frugal fun at: mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com The fresh made treats at Ramon’s go fast. Get there early!

Tomato pie is one of the lunchtime (or anytime) offerings at Ramon’s Bakery in Utica

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