Slideshow

What to Eat at La Monarca Bakery, Grand-Open in South Pasadena

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Co-owner Ricardo Cervantes

Ricardo Cervantes and Alfredo Liva’s La Monarca Bakery stands head and shoulders above your average L.A. panaderia, adding a gourmet approach to the world of made-from-scratch Mexican bread and pastries. Last Thursday, Monarca grand-opened its fourth location, taking over space in a historic South Pasadena building with help from Puebla-born architect Jose Antonio Gonzalez, formerly of Gehry Partners. In addition to the expected display of guava and dulce de leche-filled cuernos, single-origin Oaxaca-sourced coffee, fluffy tres leches, cookies, Mexican chocolate, and fresh-from-the-oven baguettes, the new Monarca serves new ranchero and veggie quiches, cold brew coffee, open-faced cazuelas, and a variety of products including olive oils from Baja and Guayeco fruit spreads sourced from Aguascalientes. Come take a look at the newest space in the Monarca empire and the delicious spread of goodies in our slideshow look at the Pasadena location.

La Monarca, 1001 Mission St. South Pasadena; 626-403-6860.

Co-owner of La Monarca Bakery.
Sweetened with piloncillo, unrefined Mexican sugar.
From Left: Bean and cheese, chicken mole, beef in salsa verde, and soyrizo.
Like huevos rancheros in quiche form, and yes, as awesome as it sounds.
And pineapple empanadas.
Guava and cream cheese-filled puff pastries.
From left: Strawberry con crema, dark chocolate, mixed fruit, and dulce de leche.
Extra virgin olive oil from Baja.
Using Monarca’s single-origin Oaxacan beans.
Rajas con queso in croissant dough.
Fresh from the oven and caramelized beyond belief.
What to Eat at La Monarca Bakery, Grand-Open in South Pasadena