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.