Chocolamour Gourmet Pastry Shop Opens in La Penita
Tara A. Spears
Attention all those that crave sweets: now you can indulge your love of delectable pastry with specialty coffee on your morning walk. Chocolamour Gourmet Pastry Shop, Bahia de Acapolco #3 (just off the avenida in La Penita) opened a couple of weeks ago. This gem of a pastry bistro serves artistic cookies, cupcakes, decorated donuts, giant brownies, cheesecake, and slices of cake besides offering organic breads and rolls. Need a birthday or specialty cake? No problem, just pick your design and call to order and pastry chef Zandra Mera Riofrio will create one for you. (cell 322 168 8006)
“What makes my baking special is that I learned how to create pastries in Equador,” said Zandra. “My frostings and donuts incorporate Mexican ingredients but use the traditional Equadorian recipes.” This vivacious mother of three is no stranger to business as she has assisted her husband of 24 years, Wilson Bolivar Mera, (first photo) in his store besides raising the children. “My uncle operates a successful restaurant in Equador and I was trained by him,” said Zandra. “I have always loved to bake. Guests and my family told me for years that I should sell my pastries- now I am!”
Not only does Zandra know how to please a sweet tooth, but she has a flare for decorating. The pastry shop is cozy and welcoming with its soft pastel bistro chairs and tables with the smell of fresh coffee and baking wafting through. Besides the specialty coffee the Chocolamour serves a tasty array of fruit smoothie-type drinks and frappechino.
“My biggest challenge each day is deciding what the customers would like,” she explains with a smile. “I use only the top quality butter, eggs, milk from Costco and always fresh ingredients. It’s important to me to serve only quality pastries. If it didn’t bake right, it’s not sold.”
Warning: reading the following menu will bring on an uncontrollable urge for pastry!
From personal experience, I can share that the Raspberry cheesecake is to-die-for-delicious! Not only are the donuts light and tasty, but so pretty you almost hate to bite into them. Zandra’s decorated cakes are sure to be a family favorite. In case you are not familiar with tres leches cake,it is a very moist, sweet cake that is extremely popular in Ecuador and throughout Latin America. It is basically a sponge cake that absorbs milk, whipping cream, and condensed milk that is frequently decorated with fresh fruit.
Another treat that is sublime is the variety of amazing cookies; they vary from the super sweet with a delicate texture to the decorated shortbread-type. All are definitely a delicious cookie that you can’t eat just one!
Whether you choose a slice of cake and a coffee or a super brownie with a fruit smoothie, the Chocolamour Repasteria is a perfect stop for excellent pasteries.
Located: Bahia de Acapoco #3 Open every day but Sunday 9 am til 12:30 and 4 pm til 10 pm