Since 2000 Dalton has been fortunate to have one of the most amazing stores, La Esperanza Bakery, which is located off East Morris Street. If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting, please make a trip this week and let the talented owners and bakers show you why this is one great place. I am always in awe when I visit and see just what’s offered. It seems I want to try everything, and when you look at my choices, you will think I did just that. When the store has fresh baked goods each day, customers just can’t resist.
When you enter, you will want to pick up a silver tray and some tongs. This will allow you to place all the goodies you want to purchase on the tray. It’s a self-service bakery. All the various choices are placed in visible shelves and they are labeled, so you see what you are selecting. If you have any questions, the friendly staff will help you make choices and answer any questions you have. Even though the store is very busy each day, the staff makes sure customers are served and checked out quickly. Now that’s excellent customer service.
At first, all the choices can be overwhelming, but my suggestion is just to take each section slowly. Don’t worry about all the goodies yet to ponder. Just enjoy each section at a slow pace, and make your selections. If your tray is completely full, don’t worry. You won’t regret any selections you make.
The bakery is open seven days a week, Saturday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The bakers arrive very early to ensure our community has the best bakery products each day. The products are all made in-house. The establishment is family owned. An opportunity of the location became available, so the business became a reality, and has expanded over the years.
The owners love to visit local schools and share the story of their business with students. The owners want to “be an example of motivation” to the youth in our area. This is something they are very, very passionate about. They relay to students not to give up on future plans they have, and keep on working to achieve their goals. (The owners started the bakery back in the day with an oven that had to be closed with a stick. They never gave up on their dream, and worked hard each day to make the bakery what it is now. What better people to share motivation and work ethic with students.) The owners are very supportive of local soccer leagues and sponsorships for local schools in the area. They are all about giving back.
I had the best time at the bakery when the sweetest employee gave me a tour and helped me select the bestsellers at the shop. The bakery features to-go items, so you can take them home and enjoy the goodness. (That’s a plus because no one sees just how much of the great food you consume.) Here are some of the items I selected.
Crème horn, a tender, flaky puffed pastry filled with the most delectable crème. They just melt in your mouth. The taste is fresh, sweet and delicate.
Churros, a delicate fried choux pastry made with butter, water and flour. The churros are such a comfort food with the sweetened cinnamon. I could enjoy a couple right now with a mug of hot chocolate.
Conchas, a sweet bread with a wonderful sugar paste on top. These are a favorite for breakfast, dinner, snacks or served with coffee or hot chocolate. The shape and the pattern on top just make the food more inviting to eat.
Pinguinos, a moist, delicious chocolate cupcake filled with buttercream and topped with chocolate icing and a buttercream swirl. I usually think of a Hostess cupcake when I see a pinguinos. This dessert will certainly fix your chocolate craving in the best way ever.
Mil hojas, beautiful stacked layers of puff pastry filled with crème, drizzled with chocolate on the top. This amazing dessert features thin, crispy layers of heaven, filled with even more heaven in the filling and sauce. The word translates to thousand layers. And yes, there’s about a thousand luscious layers to enjoy bite by bite.
Cheesecakes. La Esperanza has some of the best cheesecake I’ve tasted, and consuming cheesecake is my forte. There’s a crème caramel flan which has the most scrumptious creamy and smooth texture. The taste matches the appearance of this awesome dessert. It tastes as good as it looks. Then there’s a delightful cream cheese pastry with a yummy crust that is baked to perfection. Each bite gets better and better.
Tres leches cakes. If you want to ooh and ahh over shelves and shelves of desserts, you must see the tres leches cakes. Several flavors are available (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate) and each is mighty fine. Whole cakes are available or you can purchase by the slice, and you can even select cakes with more than one flavor. They aim to please their customers. Tres leches, a light, airy sponge cake soaked with three types of milk, is a must for you to try. No matter which flavor you select, it will be a good one. Go ahead and pick up more than one flavor. You’ll thank me later.
The bakery also offers cakes for special occasions. You may call in to order or go in person to the store to place your order. They will make you a creation to remember.
I’ve visited La Esperanza many times, and each time I’m amazed by all the variety of baked products they offer at such a high quality. They do it all so well. The owners (husband and wife plus sisters) strive to make this bakery one that our community loves and knows that exceptional bakery items will always be available.
The excellent food is what La Esperanza Bakery is known for. Just as excellent as the food are the amazing type of people the owners are in our community. When these owners want to be a positive and motivational influence to our youth, that just takes the cake. Any person that has a desire to visit local schools and talk to students about positive thinking and never giving up on your dreams is A+ in my book. I’m a retired educator, and I know educators love having fine examples of role models speak to classes.
I’m planning another trip soon to this wonderful place to select some of the other blue-ribbon baked goods. And yes, my tray will be piled high with more amazing delicacies.