La Espiga Dorada

Hidden Pan Dulce Treasure

Food

Service

Atmosphere

Walking down the cobblestone streets of Old Mazatlan it is easy to be taken with the old crumbling charm of the buildings you pass...Each small home, store, abandoned building is a different pastel shade of pink, green, blue, orange, and yellow. Come to think of it, they start resembling slices of birthday cake. Delicious birthday cake with white icing edges....perfect with a mug of hot chocolate, actually Mexican hot chocolate, Chocolate Abuelita.

Yet, there is no greater accompaniment to hot chocolate than a flaky, sugary, creamy piece of Mexican pan dulce. As I was walking down the street I happened to glance into a crusty window, of a shop, on a street corner. Bread. Baskets of bread. Shelves of bread. Hmm, is that someone's kitchen or a bakery? There was no outward sign to the shop. The door did not jingle when I pushed on it. Yet there it was, the warming smell of fresh bread, meringues, conchitas. In the corner of the room there is an elderly woman sitting with her hands on her cane. She just looks up when I come in. Buenas tardes. She nods in response. The bread is delicious. Warm, comforting, sweet, and flaky. The coconut macaroons were little drops of heaven. Overall, I felt as if I'd stepped into another world when I entered La Espiga Dorada. It's very easy to miss, but when it's found it is well worth it.