A Sweet Day in Pasadena

Four of us adventurers (Camille, Carrie, Gail, and I) learned a few things during our bakery reconnaissance trip over the summer. First, check to see what places are open on what days. Though we definitely had plenty of options, we were disappointed to find that some of the places on our list were closed on Mondays. Second, there are only so many treats a person can consume in a day. This seems self-evident, but we found ourselves rejecting pastries by the end of the day because our bellies were full. Third, bring a cooler. Carrie was the clever one who brought an ice-chest in which the rest of us tried to cram our take-home items. Next time we will each bring our own cooler. Despite these hard-won lessons, we had a grand time!

Our day started at Little Flower Bakery in Pasadena. This darling cafe and gift shop is tucked into a pretty suburban neighborhood. You will be driving around, admiring the neatly trimmed lawns and graceful one-story homes one moment, and then–surprise–you turn a corner and are met with the black and white striped umbrellas of the Little Flower Bakery. We were all quite hungry so decided to order our food before investigating the small retail shop. Camille ordered a salad and declared it “perfect.” I tried to get each of the salad components in one bite, and I must say she was right. On a generous bed of arugula were white beans, avocado, shaved Parmesan, and thin strips of crispy fried prosciutto, dressed in a bright lemon thyme vinaigrette.

I can rarely pass up a piece of classic, streusel-topped coffee cake so ordered this along with a cappuccino. The coffee cake was not memorable, but on my return trip inside the shop, I came upon something very, very good: passion fruit lemonade. This refreshing drink was slightly sweet with tropical notes. Carrie was delighted with her order, and we all agreed it was outstanding: a slice of moist citrus olive oil cake with a vanilla bean buttercream frosting. Three plump berries rested atop the frosting. We also agreed that the shop carried an alluring selection of condiments, beans, Flower Bakery’s famous caramels, cookbooks, and cute Little Flower merch.

Our next stop was Heirloom Bakery, near the train station in South Pasadena. In line with us were a couple of women who worked nearby and came “nearly every day.” They were especially effusive in their compliments about the pies and quiches on offer. Based on their recommendation, I purchased a slice of key lime pie which was quite good; I am sure would have been better if I had not brought it home to eat the next day.

We sped in and out of La Monarca, fearful our parking permit would expire. The cashier, Juan, was perhaps the most kind and patient person we met all day. We made several purchases to bring home, and my favorite one was La Monaca’s cafe de olla: “The Sweet Coffee of Mexico.” I normally favor tea, but since I have been making the cafe de olla at home, I am a convert to this cozy, sweet morning beverage comprised of coffee, cinnamon, and piloncillo, a raw form of pure cane sugar.

A short drive led us to Tartine Bakery. Upon entering, we were rendered speechless. Every item in the case and on display looked like it was baked by magical fairies. Furthermore, every item we ordered was exceptionally good. Sure, I had not yet eaten anything resembling real food yet, but, undaunted, I went straight for the devil’s food cake. WHOA! This cake was dense and moist and the ganache-esque buttercream frosting had a deep, rich flavor and was applied with a deft, light hand. This dreamy slice was by far one of the best chocolate cakes I have had in my life.

Aside from my decadent order, Gail enjoyed her unusual corn tea cake topped with dried strawberries; Carrie had a tuna sandwich with tahini (!), sweet pickles, and frise. She announced that is was unusually tasty. She also purchased a bergamot spiced chocolate chip cookie which all of us liked. I think if there were a Tartine in my neighborhood, I would be there every day, perhaps twice a day. In addition to the phenomenal food, the employees were cheery and helpful.

By now Carrie’s cooler and our stomachs were becoming full, so we debated whether or not to keep going. Who were we kidding? Gail consulted her list, and after encountering a couple of closed bakeries, we found ourselves lucky to enter Delight Pastry. This is a beautiful, inviting establishment with comfortable, soft pink upholstered chairs and couches, marble topped tables, plants, and a long case, displaying row upon row of exquisite patisserie. We ordered espresso beverages and shared a slice of opera cake with delicate layers of French buttercream and ganache, a pistachio and rosewater pastry with a pretty white glaze, and a sweet, buttery Kouign-amann. The opera cake was the clear winner, and we enjoyed meeting the warm, amiable owner, and her daughter (in the third photo below) The owner shared the history of her bakery with us and her present work of researching new recipes and techniques to make her distinctive bakery even better.

Two images above from Delight Pastry’s Instagram

Porto’s in Glendale was our final stop, and it was a first-time visit for both Carrie and Gail. I remember the first time I went to Porto’s. Many years ago, when my daughters (now 24 and 22) were in elementary school, my friend Kristy, an LA native who had grown up going to Porto’s, took us and her two sons to Porto’s in Glendale. My girls’ eyes grew as big as saucers when they spotted giant displays of pastries with flavors they had never tried, such as guava. We all remember our original visit with fondness and longing. Another Porto’s family memory comes from the miserable months of the pandemic in 2021. Desperate for a day trip, we headed to Porto’s where we ordered a tres leches blended cappuccino and walked around outside for a few hours. That drink was unbelievably rich, decadent, and, quite simply, mind-blowing. Porto’s provided a bright spot during that period.

Like Kristy, I was able to introduce my friends to Porto’s and saw their faces light up. Gail had a memorable tiramisu in a small cup, I finally decided to eat something nutritious and had a bowl of well-seasoned black bean soup, while Carrie had a cheese potato ball and a dulce de leche besito, a small, sweet little butter cookie with a creamy filling.

We headed back home in a bit of a stupor with very full stomachs. Shockingly, or perhaps not, we spent the drive north talking about our next adventure. I would love to know if you have any ideas for future cities and baked goods for us to explore and enjoy.