Victoria Melgar once ran the Kupcake Factory, a brand of bake shops with multiple locations and a following around New Orleans. Her daughter, Laura Bueso, built her own following on the northshore with Elizabeth’z Bakery and a specialty in Dubai chocolate treats served from a farmers market stand.
Now the mother-daughter duo together have a new bakery café in Mid-City that rolls together their respective specialties and a growing array of other tasty creations, both sweet and savory.
The two opened Barrio Bites at 4201 Canal St. in April. The address was long home to Church Alley Coffee, and later a pop-up location for local micro brand Laozi Ice Cream.
It’s a cute little den to drop by for a coffee and a snack, or perhaps a quick meal.
“We’re getting a lot of feedback from the neighbors and people who work nearby and we’re listening and adding more dishes,” said Melgar.
Cupcakes to kolaches
The Kupcake Factory, which Melgar ran with her sister, once had five locations around the New Orleans area before shutting down in the pandemic.
Familiar cupcake flavors from the old days like red velvet and “goin’ bananas” are now in the pastry case, alongside Bueso’s Dubai chocolate cookies and other creations. Her Dubai chocolate king cake, a farmer market hit, will return at the cafe next Carnival season…