TAKE A DIY
BAKERY TOUR!
Le Parfait Paris
Find the full article at www.sandiegofamily.com/ things-to-do/dining-and-recipes.
Get a Taste of Culture at Local Bakeries Want to teach kids about world
cultures? Start with dessert! Around the globe, sweet treats are tied to important celebrations that make a culture unique. Often, they showcase a society’s most beloved ingredients. Here are San Diego County bakeries that offer a delightful taste of the cookies, cakes and tarts that represent our population’s diverse food traditions. Plan a “pastry crawl” with your family and tour the world without leaving home! This would also be fun to do with out-of-town guests during the holidays. Le Parfait Paris Point Loma www.leparfaitparis.com Located in Liberty Public Market, this authentic patisserie and boulangerie offers French favorites like croissant aux amandes (almond croissant) and crème brûlée. Children are drawn to the bakery’s selection of colorful macarons—delicate, sandwich-style cookies filled with jam or ganache. Pastries are baked fresh daily and each item is made by hand. Owner Ludi Mas says French desserts contain minimal added sugar, because ingredients are caramelized to enhance natural sweetness. The menu includes crepes, espresso and full-leaf teas. Additional locations are in the Gaslamp and Fashion Valley Mall. Gluten-free and dairy-free items available.
16 • SanDiegofamily.com • November 2019
Azucar Ocean Beach www.iloveazucar.com Offering a modern twist on Cuban favorites, this neighborhood gem enjoys a bustling after-school crowd. Kids love the brightly colored pastries with unique island flavors like guava, cream cheese and coconut. Chef and owner Vivian Hernandez-Jackson draws on her Cuban heritage and European training to deliver a range of goodies from authentic pastelitos (stuffed puff pastries) to Instagram-worthy unicorn cookies. Azucar is committed to using the highest quality ingredients, including unrefined sugars. Be sure to try the pastelitos de carne (meat pastries dipped in sweet syrup). Egg-free and gluten-free options available. The London Bakery Ramona www.eatlondonbakery.com This quaint British bakery is nestled in the heart of Old Town Ramona. An inviting tearoom delights the senses with antique-style décor and the aroma of buttery pastries from across the pond. Owner Joanne Bennet hails from East London, where she perfected the bakery’s offerings—including her grandmother’s scones and a traditional English lemon curd, beloved by her family for more than 100 years. Drop in for a bag of show-stopping shortbread, or stay for a traditional English cream tea, served on genuine bone china. Check the website for special events featuring live music.
Azucar
Anne Malinoski
85°C Bakery Cafe Multiple Locations www.85cbakerycafe.com This popular chain offers a selection of Taiwanese and Japanese pastries. Choose from a variety of sweet breads, buns and puddings with typical Asian ingredients like matcha, taro, red bean and mango. Japanese-style brioche is a bestseller at the bakery—an ultra-soft sweet loaf with a rich, buttery flavor. The Hokkaido cheese tart and taro swirl are excellent choices as well. Order a boba milk tea to complete the experience. Edelweiss Bakery Rancho Bernardo www.edelweissbakerysandiego.com Specializing in European cakes and pastries, this North County bakery offers San Diego’s best selection of German favorites. Try their famous German apple ring—a buttery pound cake baked with fresh sliced fruit. They also offer strudels, Bavarian raspberry cake, black forest cake, German chocolate cake, Danish pastries, cookies and tarts. This familyowned bakery has been a community favorite for more than 30 years. Red Ribbon Bake Shop Mira Mesa www.redribbonbakeshop.us This bakery chain offers Filipino treats like mamon (bite-sized chiffon cakes) and ensaimada—an eye-rolling combination of buttery bread, sugar and cheese. Check the bakery case for pastries with popular