Neighborhood Sweet Spot: El Merendero Bakery
Pan Dulce fresh from the bakery
Saturday morning’s mild weather was a refreshing sign of the coming season. Crisp cool air prompted me to jump out of bed with the realization that, “life awaits.”
This was the perfect opportunity to share a great cigar with a close friend. We enjoyed Hoyo De Monterey Dark Sumatras as we made our way through downtown Pomona’s 2nd Street Antique Row. It looked as though others got the memo, as we saw numerous people out walking their dogs or just taking a stroll.
Our leisurely morning presented us with El Merendero, a local Mexican bakery. As I walked into the bakery, I was immediately surrounded by the sweet aroma of fresh baked bread. Colorful murals covered the walls and smiling faces could be seen all around.
Pan Dulce, a delicious sweet bread, is one of El Merendero’s specialties. We grabbed a tray and a pair of tongs and went to work. El Merendero has a wall to wall display of Pan Dulce. You can choose from Lima, Bigote, Chilindrina, Ojo de Buey, Polvoron, Picon and Conchas to name a few. At about 50 cents each, you can fill your tray and not go broke. There are no preservatives in Pan Dulce, so you must enjoy them on the same day.
I selected a Bigote con Crema and an Elotito accompanied by coffee with cinnamon to drink. Paying at the counter brings me back-in-time to an old town feel. A light breakfast for about $2.50 was a great start to my day. We selected a table in the dining room next door, the El Merendero Restaurant, which was already filled with regulars enjoying brunch.
Pan Dulce and Café
As I bit into the soft, sweet Bigote I was filled with delight. The Bigote had just enough sweetness to it with its lightly glazed outer layer and its modest amount of sweet cream inside. Next, I dove right into a sugar coated Elotito. It had a sweet flakiness that went great with my coffee with cinnamon. I immediately found the urge to dunk the baked treat into my large cup of coffee, which I did. It was light, sweet and delicious.
In Spanish, El Merendero means “The Picnic” and I definitely felt that sort of ease and comfort you get when you are enjoying a relaxing picnic. They have another location in La Verne just minutes away. I have not yet experienced their array of tacos, burritos and traditional Mexican dishes, but I will make it a priority to revisit soon. The comfort and flavor of the bakery was enough to keep me coming back for more. Pan Dulce and coffee from El Merendero—I highly recommend it.
El Merendero Bakery
240 S Garey Ave
Pomona, CA 91766
(909) 622-2430
