Alfajores disappointment

[Anya L]

I had been meaning to do an alfajores tasting and finally got around to it, although, sadly, I only ended up with 2 samples.

1) Cafe lo Cubano - Might have been OK except one of the cookies was totally burnt. I can't believe they actually sold these burnt cookies (and hid the burnt side, of course). The dulce de leche stuck to the burnt cookie, so it was hard to imagine how it might have tasted had it not been burnt. Waste of $2.

2) Tango Gelato - The sign said "Dolce Vita" brand, which means packaged. I guess it was OK for packaged, but that's not really what I was looking for. I recall liking Havanna packaged alfajores better, but it's been a while. Waste of $2 more.

3) Citizen Cake - Big disappointment because they don't make alfajores anymore. The woman there said they might be willing to make them on special order if you got at least a dozen. I am considering it. I got a yummy ginger cookie and oatmeal cookie and fantastic pain de campagne, so the trip wasn't a total waste.

One of these days I will have to trek over to the Alemany Farmers' Market and try the ones everyone raved about.

[Mari]

I only ate half of Lo Cubano's alfajor since it wasn't worth the calories.
Were the ones at Tango Gelato imported from Argentina or are they made in the US?

[Anya L]

I think Argentina, but not 100% sure. They had the chocolate kind as well as the regular butter cookie.

[Melanie Wong]

Dolce Vita is locally made. I agree with you that they're not worth eating.

[south72]

I disagree with all of you. I am from Argentina and the Dolce Vita ones are Tha best! Havana has pretty good ones specially the white ones with walnuts. Villa del Sol also has good ones. Check first is the place where you got the Dolce vitas has fresh ones.

[CH Addict]

Not a bakery but a restaurant, but Inka in the Mission had good alfajores and I am not a cookie fan.

[Windy]

They were very good, if not completely traditional.

I'm also a fan of the ones they sell at Ritual.

[jaweino]

I agree that those at Tango Gelato are better off skipped.

The only decent ones I've had in this country were at Fresca. They were excellent.

[the tablehopper]

I think you'll find the best ones in town at destino. they are too perfect. buttery heaven. you can purchase a box of 12 from them.

they even wrote them up in this month's saveur!

Link: http://www.destinosf.com/alfajores.html

[Melanie Wong]

Guess I'll have to try them again. Destino's didn't strike me as that good the one time I tried them. Villa del Sol's in SSF are much better.

[Anya L]

Looks like I will have to check out Destino, Fresca, Ritual, and Inka (and the Alemany Farmers' Market, of course). Not sure when that's going to happen, since I don't live close by and my outings are limited by my baby's feeding & nap schedule and my reliance on my feet & Muni for transportation. (The bus ride home from Citizen Cake on the 5 Fulton was an adventure.) But one of these days for sure.

[shanghaikid]

have seen the alfajores made at the alemany f.m. being sold at the san ramon f.m. and whole foods market in the bakery section. would imagine all whole foods carry them now.

[Windy]

(This is an ancient thread--happily there are newer options)

The ones at Alemany and Ferry Plaza are from Sabores del Sur, a La Cocina graduate. You can buy them at gourmet groceries like Canyon Market and Bi-Rite too although I think only the big ones. Didn't realize they'd make it to Whole Foods.

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Canyon Market
2815 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA

Sabores del Sur
712 Bancroft Road Suite 236, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

[ML8000]

Caffe Centro in South Park use to carry some...obviously from an outside source. Very tasty. The non-traditional chocolate covered ones are killer.

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Caffe Centro
102 S Park St, San Francisco, CA 94107

[nescaffe]

If you're still looking for alfajores, i hear the new Venga empanada shop in the Mission is making and selling them. They do Argentine-style empanadas

[south72]

I did try last week the maizena alfajores from Venga empanadas and they were amazing! Venga just got a new recipe very light and tasty

[ChowFun_derek]

Venga Empanadas
vengaempanadassf.com/

443 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
[phone]
Subway: 16th St. Mission BART

Which of these 2 addresses is the correct one for alfajores?

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Venga Empanadas
2937 24th street, San Francisco, CA