Sunday, September 27, 2009

Mmm, mmm, Menonita

During a recent work trip to Tejutla, Ben got to make a stop in at the Bake Shop in Xela, our absolute favorite pastel/panaderia in Guatemala. You might remember this place from one of our posts many moons ago while we were living in Xela (read it here).

Living in the land of dry bread and hard cookies, it's our little bakery paradise. Owned and operated by Mennonites, the Bake Shop sells all the delicious goodies that Ben grew up with back in Lancaster, PA. Since they are only open on Tuesdays and Fridays and normally the best treats sell out quickly, he hot-footed it over there early with his curious co-workers Dani & Otto. Within seconds of entering the shop, they quickly realized what all the fuss has been about every time we reminisce about the place! Since I wasn't along for the trip, I made a few requests, namely the jelly filled donuts and garlic bagels! Apparently Ben was feeling hungry because check out the loot he brought home with him.

Bread, bagels, donuts, cookies, granola & more!

As soon as he got home we cracked open the cookies but not without a little laugh. You have to understand that there is not even 1 detail that has gone unnoticed in the Bake Shop - it's pure Mennonite, just a million miles away from the Land of Milk & Honey. Everything from the styrofoam packaging to the cut in half twist-ties is exactly the same. Lucky for us the taste is the same too!

After a visit to this delicious paradise, we always chat about franchising a branch of the Bake Shop in Antigua....or Denver for that matter! With the recipes in the family, our idea might not be so far-fetched after all!

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