Finding the Best Mexican Bakery in Hermiston

The Mexican bakery across the street from me has won my heart, added wonderful breads and pastries to my diet and not hurt my pocketbook in the bargain.� �

Actually there are three Panaderias in Hermiston but my favorite of the three is the Panaderia el Pueblo on West Hermiston Avenue and fourth street.� Maybe because it is the one across the street from me and I can just run across there in my sandals and get the pan blanco as it comes hot from the oven.� This Panaderia is different from the other two in that it has a very large assortment of different baked goods and nearly always has hot bread just coming out of the oven.� Like a neighborhood store as well as a Panaderia, the bakery has milk and margarine, beans and maize and spices and condiments, a small freezer with ice creams and a cooler with sodas and Mexican fruit juices and so much more.� There is an array of wonderful belt buckles and a display of imaginative key chains. But what I go for is the pan blanco.� The football shaped loaves are crispy and golden on the outside and soft on the inside and perfect for tortas which are hefty sandwiches made from them.

Now of course I must confess to a real weakness for the flan (baked custard) at Panaderia el Pueblo, and who can resist the Three Milk Cake.� Early in the morning you may also catch the Senor making fresh donuts, even my food conservative husband can not resist those.

I haven't learned which items the names for different types of bread rolls, buns and cookies actully refer too.� I mean I know there are picones (jabbers), trenzas (braids), corbatas (neckties), bigotes (moustaches), ladrillos and piedras (bricks and stones), orejas (ears), besos de novia (bride's kisses), rejas (grilles), borrachitos (lushes), roscas (rings) and cuernos (horns).� I just don't know which is which, and if that isn't confusing enough there are also churros, polvorones, mantecadas, campechanas, chilindrinas, duques, semitas, cocoles, volcanes, rehiletes, garibaldis, rosquillas de San Isidro, palitos de
manteca.� Okay, I have been showing off.� And now I must confess I found this wonderful list on the internet.� I think all of these are in the Panaderia del Pueblo next door but I cannot guarantee that.

The great thing is,� the Senor will help me sort it out as I get the courage to ask.� After all he has taught me to ask for the eight little loaves of bread I purchase and the margarine and the milk.� Umm lets see, "ocho pan blanco y margarina, y lechepor favor" Then I laugh and duck my head because I know my accent is terrible but he pretends to understand me and laughs with me and brings me what I want, gently correcting my pronunciation and speaking partly in Spanish to help me learn and partly in English so I will understand.� This is what the neighborhood bakery should be….friendly, happy and with wonderful aromas and tastes.

When the neighbors come by my house with hot fresh tamales for sale we go to the Panaderia for help with the conversation and I am happy with the friendly chatter and the pointers in how to say eggs (huevos) in Spanish.

The Panaderia on Main Street specializes in cakes made to order for special occasions and has a selection of wedding cake brides and grooms in the window and a very small assortment of other baked goods in a small display.� The Senora who called to me from the back room was friendly and helpful. �

The Panaderia on Eleventh Street at the west end of Hermiston Ave. (Yasmine's Panaderia) is big and crowded with an array of Mexican pinatas, condiments and food items in addition to the pan blanco and other traditional rolls and breads.� I peeked into the kitchen and it was large and clean, the bakers were friendly and curious about my curiosity and waved and laughed when I tried to speak Spanish.� The young Senor at the front counter helped me choose a delicacy from the display of baked goods and I went home with three large servings of a lovely bread pudding with raisins in it.� Yasmine's Panaderia has another attraction which is really not a part of the bakery at all but a video rental shop in a room off the main room which seemed to be doing a moderately brisk business as well.