No matter how you’re quarantining, isolating, socially distancing or whatever the latest verb is to describe what we’re going through, we all have to eat. But there’s a difference between mere sustenance and food that feeds your soul.
Cue La Panadería if you’re ready to break up the boring and celebrate flavor.

La panadería is Spanish for the bakery. But that simple name doesn’t begin to cover the flavor you’ll find waiting for you at this San Antonio favorite that, pre-pandemic, routinely had lines snaking out the door. Yet, La Panadería is indeed a bakery, offering artisan bread and pastries that can only be described as heavenly. It’s a must destination for anyone who believes carbs are meant to be relished and enjoyed, even worshipped.

Perhaps we don’t need to go that far. No one wants “COVID-19” to mean the weight you’ve gained thus far in 2020. However, it might be worth it if La Panadería is involved. And you don’t have to stand in line, dine-in or even be in San Antonio to get your fix.

Throughout the pandemic, La Panadería has emphasized online orders and curbside pickup. And to spread the love beyond San Antonio, they offer statewide shipping of their signature pan dulce items such as the concha, empanada and tequila almond croissant.

Yes, I said tequila almond croissant. A Mexican bakery that makes almond croissants? That cross pollinization is part of the secret sauce behind La Panadería, which specializes in handmade bread, pan dulce and pastries inspired by Mexico’s Golden Era, or Epoca de Oro, also draws influence from French, Italian and American breadmaking techniques.

La Panadería’s website notes, “Our tortas are the key to your corazon”. Yes, tortas. The tortas are amazing. So are their salads and soups. The croissants, conchas and empanadas? They speak to your soul. And their breakfast menu? There’s no reason to argue. Try them all. Your heart and your stomach will be ecstatic. Pick up pan dulces or dive into their amazing French bread for breakfast. To make it easy, La Panadería offers family meal and brunch packages that provide a great deal on popular menu items such as tortas, pan dulce, mimosas and more.

Or order the perfect lunch or dinner to go. It’s hard to believe that they can make their bread better than it already is, but when they add in things like grilled chicken and swiss cheese, with cilantro mayo, a greens mix and guacamole lime, it’s a whole new level of fantastic. From La Clásica to the Mexican Cubana, you can’t go wrong. Add soup or salad as your side and finish it off with a pan dulce (or two!) and you’re ready to Zoom through whatever meetings you have for the rest of the day.

Be warned:  every La Panadería bag includes a list of everything they offer. No matter how full you are after polishing one off, the list lures back in!

If you can’t grab curbside, take the leap and have pan dulce shipped to you. The box arrives with each treasure individually wrapped, sugar-dusted and ready to enjoy. The empanada flavors are all wonderful (strawberry, apple, pineapple and guava, available as an assortment as well as one flavor) and will brighten your day.

Or dive into the bakery’s signature tequila almond croissants, regular croissants, or the option of an assorted pastry pack. Trust us, you won’t want to share, so order enough to keep everyone in your quarantine pod happy. Or hoard them. We won’t tell. And we promise they’re much more satisfying than that stash of toilet paper.

Cover: French Toast with Berries. Photo courtesy La Panadería

An award-winning writer and communications expert who runs Tale to Tell Communications, Dawn Robinette loves to tell stories about her adopted hometown of San Antonio. Read more of her work at Alamo City Moms, San Antonio Woman and Rio Magazine.