A Slice of Home

La Panadería brings traditional Mexican baking to the Exchange District

By: Scott Maier

When Brenda Hernández moved to Winnipeg from Mexicali, a Mexican city near the California border ten years ago, it wasn’t the cold winters that bothered her – it was the lack of her favourite Mexican bread.

Although other Mexican restaurants and businesses existed in the city, Hernández couldn’t help but notice a distinct lack of Mexican bakeries.

“No one else was doing it here,” Hernández said. “So I had to do it myself.”

With the help of her husband and four children, Hernández opened La Panadería, a coffee shop and bakery that aims to give people in the Exchange District a taste of Mexican sweet breads and desserts.

Hernández, 46, starts most mornings off by baking fresh batches of conchas – a Mexican sweet bread with a cinnamon and vanilla-flavoured dough – and stocking the fridge with tres leches cakes and churro cheesecakes while her kids take turns running the counter.

When she’s not baking, Hernández keeps busy by painting or crafting. Nearly every vibrant decoration in the bakery, including the piñatas, pom-poms, sombreros, and milagritos hanging on the walls, were made by Hernández.

According to her daughter Carla Miranda, 23, these displays of art help show customers her family’s Mexican culture.

“Everything here is our tradition,” said Carla Miranda.

Since the bakery opened in February, La Panadería has been adjusting its menu to cater to customers. After hearing of a demand for more lunch-style foods, Hernández is adding tortas — or sandwiches — to the menu.

“I’m trying to make what people ask for,” said Hernández.

For many students at Red River College Polytechnic, these small adjustments are the make-or-break factor when choosing a local coffee shop over the Tim Hortons on campus.

Toni-Anne Gaudette, a 28-year-old Business Administration student at the college, says having hot food is an important factor in getting her out to a coffee shop.

Another reason is the social aspect.

“Coffee shops are for meeting new people,” said Gaudette.

Although she hasn’t been to La Panadería, Gaudette plans to visit once her semester finishes. For other students, coffee shops are a productive place to get work done.

Chryston Forbes-Dehaney, another Business Administration student, finds studying at a coffee shop helps him get down to work.

“The background chatter, the people walking in and out… it helps keep me focused,” said Forbes-Dehaney.

La Panadería is located at 218 Princess Street, just minutes from RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus. Hernández has already seen students taking advantage of the calm, sunny space to join online classes or hang out outside of school.

In the coming weeks, students can expect a bike rack out front and a new summer drink feature with mango, chamoy and tajin.