Nestle Into La Monarca's Warm, Inviting Hollywood Digs

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The simple bakery and coffee shop recipe is hard to ruin, especially in the ever-crowded Hollywood scene that doesn't seem to stop. This highly visible corner at Sunset and Gower once hosted Red Ribbon Bakery, but will boast La Monarca Bakery in about two weeks, growing the mini-empire of Mexican bakeries founded by Ricardo Cervantes and Alfredo Livas. From the original Huntington Park spot to its outpost in Santa Monica, this here new location should be a hit with locals looking for a bit of warmth in a rather drab stretch of Sunset.

Inside, take in the warm colors, soft wood tables and furniture, and the signature orange accents, making the bakery a calming escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding borough.

Featuring a wide array of house-baked pastries, specialty cakes, sandwiches, and salads, La Monarca will bring out the best of East LA's Mexican bakeries, but with a more artisanal touch. Nothing is baked off-site, all the coffee comes from an organic, single origin in Oaxaca that's roasted locally, and absolutely nothing is fried. Think cazuelas with chipotle beans and cotija cheese, caramel flan, vanilla cakes with fresh fruit, and agave nectar cookies.

Meanwhile, a yogurt parfait from house-made granola and a black bean salad will be two new menu items soon for sale at other venues. Cervantes wants to break the notion that only humble, mom-and-pop bakeries in East L.A. deserve a nod toward the authentic. With a first step in Santa Monica and this strong second in Hollywood, La Monarca is will on its way to establishing a presence in non-Hispanic neighborhoods. Next up, Cervantes is thinking Downtown might be swell location for La Monarca.
·All La Monarca Bakery Coverage [~ELA~]