641183 Sat Aug 01 12:24:27 -0700 2009 19 20 Tristate Region 0 4909107 My New Rochelle source for tamales slowly dried up as the summer progressed. I'd drop by Mercado Hernandez (on Union) about once a week, usually on Tuesdays, and buy an assortment of 4 or 6, depending. In the late spring, they wouldn't have them when they told me, so I'd come back the next day, and usually would score. The last three weeks, they didn't have any, nor did they know when, if ever, they would. I figured I'd try again in the fall. I did stop in the Paleteria at 215 Union, for a sweet treat, before drooping toward home. With little hope, I asked the nice woman at the counter if she knew of another tamale source. She pointed at the bakery RIGHT ACROSS the street. (I don't know the name yet, but will update later.) The owner told me they had them all day Saturday and Sunday, home made. I returned today. There's a big aluminum pot filled with tamales. You pick out your own with the tongs provided. I bought two mole, and two jalapenos. Have only tried the chicken jalapeno, but couldn't wait to report! It was lovely and plump, very flavorful, wrapped in corn husks. I steamed it. I paid $6 something for the four. The Palateria woman said her mother made fabulous tamales and she hoped to be selling them there by late fall. Time will tell about that. If you stand in front of the Palateria and look across the street, you can't miss the bakery. They make good muffins too. Sat Aug 01 12:24:27 -0700 2009 10087 Pat Hammond 1 4909222 Wow, what a find!! Sat Aug 01 13:22:31 -0700 2009 4909107 28696 i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream 1 4909900 nice find, Pat. As always. How does everything else look like there in the bakery? Do they stick to the bakery items? I'm WAY overdue for a New Rochelle mexican run... Sat Aug 01 20:01:07 -0700 2009 4909107 11120 adamclyde 2 4910320 Yes, it's a real Mexican bakery. It's a mom and pop operation. I'm sure the weekend tamales provide a little extra "pin money" for the mama. Sun Aug 02 06:29:57 -0700 2009 4909900 10087 Pat Hammond 2 4917304 Went once to that bakery Adam. Can't remember the name but had dinner in NR and thought we'd d try "the other" Paleteria. Had read on a thread somewhere here that the bakery across the street was worth a stop. Have to say, it wasn't great, just very average and we bought quite a few items. It was a while ago so can't tell you what they were but know it included tres leches. If you make a trip soon and find things to be different than I, please post. I'd try them again if you gave them the thumbs up. As for the paletas, Palateria Fernandez in PC has it all over the one in NR. No comparison. Tue Aug 04 14:30:48 -0700 2009 4909900 48135 laylag 3 4919576 laylag, this isn't directed to you, but just generally....there's a weird bakery effect. Most chowhounds (lower-case "c") know that in good American bakeries, only a very few items will be really good. The little green and pink chocolate twisty cookies will be bleh, as will most of the other grind-it-out stuff. So we base our evaluations on what the place does best, which we either determine by 1. reputation, 2. massive sampling, and/or 3. a good eye. Mexican bakeries also usually have lots of duds. But even chowhoundish people are quick to dismiss after trying an ordinary pan dulce or two (or even three or four). Almost all bakeries mostly suck. It's important to develop an eye for the good things to get! Wed Aug 05 09:57:03 -0700 2009 4917304 10089 Jim Leff 4 4920906 True. Though, for whatever reason, I've never really gotten into most mexican breads. Perhaps its because I don't drink coffee, but the dry sweet breads usually found don't really appeal to me. I love the designs of pan de muerto. But the flavor and dryness never really appeal. Wonder if I've just never had great stuff, or if I just don't love it... Do you know of a good bakery around that has good pan dulce or other stuff? Now, there are some mexican bakery-esque things I really kill for... like tamales and churros and stuff. Though i don't think most mexican bakeries sell churros. Probably because they don't often have both an oven and a fryer, I guess? Wed Aug 05 15:46:10 -0700 2009 4919576 11120 adamclyde 5 4922224 Yeah, there's pan dulce that would knock even your non-caffeinated socks off. Problem is, finding it is like a shell game. It's been true for twenty years: just about all Mexican places degrade quickly. You have to catch them while they're hot...new....idealistic....... Thu Aug 06 07:03:06 -0700 2009 4920906 10089 Jim Leff 5 4923029 You know what Adam, I may be on the same page with you and just simply don't care for most Mexican bakery/dessert goods, churros being one of the few exceptions. I do enjoy a very good tres leches but haven't found greatness in this area in many places. Jim, to your point, you're probably correct. I've had great and awful items from the very same bakery - whatever the ethnicity. Even Kneaded Bread, one of my favorites, doesn't do everything to excellence, although they do do most. Thu Aug 06 10:54:51 -0700 2009 4920906 48135 laylag 3 4964852 Paletaria Fernandez in Port Chester definitively has the freshest Mexican Popsicles. Also they will dip them in chocolate coating..I did a taste test of the peanut popsicle North Street in NR vs Paleteria Fernandez and the one on North Street in NR. The peanuts in the popsicle from NR had that rancid edge. Still edible but definitely an off flavor. The peanuts in the popsicle from PR tasted fine. I also love the hot and sweet mango and the sweet and salty cucumber popsicles they make. As for Mexican Pastry I have tasted many duds,and found only two I like so far. I don't know what they are called. They are diamond shaped and have a few sesame seeds on top. You can also get them prepackaged at some Mexican Grocery Stores. They might be labeled Guatemalan Pastry and come from a bakery in New Jersey. The other one I like is flavored with Anise seeds. Both of these pastries pair well with a cup of tea or coffee. They are not to sweet nor greasy. They do have a good texture somewhere between a sugar cookies and a muffin that I enjoy.. I have not had any luck purchasing a decent dulce de leche cake... All this discussion has made me want to do another inquiry. Fri Aug 21 05:43:55 -0700 2009 4917304 66662 scharffenberger 4 4968713 There's only one Guatemalan bakery in jersey I know of, and its' real good. Their best product is pound cake (they don't call it that), so look for anything poundcake-like on the chance these guys are bringing it in. Sat Aug 22 16:21:50 -0700 2009 4964852 10089 Jim Leff 5 4970380 We've got a few Guatemalan bakeries just in Stamford now... a nice luxury. Sun Aug 23 12:59:36 -0700 2009 4968713 11120 adamclyde 6 4974419 I drove by one more or less across the street from Quatro Regali the other day. Any of these places a standout? Any serving pound cake (the apotheosis of Guatemalan baked goods)? Mon Aug 24 18:41:36 -0700 2009 4970380 10089 Jim Leff 7 4975410 panaderia chapines - attached to antojitos chapines - is quite good, though I haven't checked to see if they sell the pound cake. I'll try and scout that out this week. The place across from Quattro Regali is Quetzal Deli. It's the small guatemalen deli - not bakery - and it only makes its food off premise then brings it in to sell. Antojitos Chapines is far better for full lunch/dinner fare... Tue Aug 25 07:03:48 -0700 2009 4974419 11120 adamclyde 8 4976603 Thanks. BTW, didn't actually dine at Quattro Regali. Seemed sort of claustrophobic for a quick meal by myself. PS - fwiw the ship-in-from-off-premises move isn't ALWAYS a deal closer. I've known some really good places that do that. In fact, it can mean that some actual grandma makes the food at home. Tue Aug 25 12:06:41 -0700 2009 4975410 10089 Jim Leff 9 4976775 I agree. Like almost any tamale I've ever had... seems they always bring them in from off premise. It's been a while since I've been to quetzal. It was a neat little place... just the food was average compared to other guatemalan in town. Worth going back though. Tue Aug 25 12:51:28 -0700 2009 4976603 11120 adamclyde 6 4978577 Where are they located on West Main? Wed Aug 26 04:52:57 -0700 2009 4970380 66662 scharffenberger 7 4980994 the place I'd recommend is antojitos chapines. It's across from the KFC. The address is 210 West Main, Stamford. Wed Aug 26 17:24:06 -0700 2009 4978577 11120 adamclyde 1 4914751 Pat, it's actually common for Mexican bakeries to do tamales. They're not considered restaurant food....more the domain of panaderias! One suggestion: if you ask to order a dozen tamales, I bet the Paleteria woman will have her mom make some for you. Just give her the money ahead of time so she knows you're serious. Mon Aug 03 17:58:20 -0700 2009 4909107 10089 Jim Leff 1 4918826 We are trying these today!! Will report back! Wed Aug 05 05:46:37 -0700 2009 4909107 45513 RawTunaFan