In the back of a cul-de-sac in a home on the east side of town is the most unexpected, happy find. At the fairly new Cuca’s Pan Dulce customers will find some of the most delicious pan dulce.
Newcomers to the Old Pueblo might not know what pan dulce is but those of us who have been here for some time (or forever) know that it is one of Mexico’s best gifts to the world. A quick translation tells the curious everything they need to know: sweet bread. Yes, at its core that’s exactly what pan dulce is, but look deeper and something beautiful is revealed. Take for example a concha. It’s large, round, sweet but not too sweet and topped with a sugar and butter paste. Some say they are best eaten with a cup of coffee, but many purists like to eat them just by themselves.
Diane “Cuca” Rodriguez sells among other things conchas, empanadas (fruit turnovers) and cochinitos (piggy cookies) fresh. Don’t even think about weight loss. It’s not possible here, especially when your baker husband is creative…