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By vianney rodriGUez • PHoTos By eriC w. PoHl illUsTraTion By Tim Carroll

Visits to panaderías for pan dulce create cherished family bonds in Mexican American culture

Growing upI spent summers with my abuelitos in Brownsville, and our Sunday morning visits to the panadería are a cherished memory. My sisters and I would quickly put on our shoes, tighten our ponytails and run to Abuelito Angel’s car. At the end of the five-minute drive, my grandfather would park and walk us into the bakery. The aroma was intoxicating.

Like most panaderías, this one was self-serve, so my abuelo would grab a pair of tongs and a silver charola (tray) before he set us free. My sister would slowly pace the aisle, studying the colorful displays on each shelf. I, on the other hand, knew exactly what I wanted: two cereal-crusted galletas with the jelly center. They were my favorite then, and they still are. I would point to the galletas, and my abuelito would smile because he knew they were my favorite. To this day visiting a panadería reminds me of my late grandfather.

Visiting a local panadería to buy pan dulce is a tradition we deeply love in our Mexican American culture. We enjoy pan dulce throughout the week with our morning café or for merienda (afternoon snack), and these special pastries are a major part of our holiday celebrations. Because panaderías are part of our daily lives, the folks at our local bakeries are part of our familia. We know them all, and when we stop in, we chat about our day, our children and life in general. Because we are a family, the pan dulce tastes that much sweeter.

Every panadería has its regulars who want to keep the tradition of enjoying pan dulce alive for their children and grandchildren. They have their favorite pan dulce selections and arrive early to fill their bags.

Pan dulce translates literally as sweet bread and includes a vast array of pastries that vary dramatically in size, shape, texture and flavor. My experience suggests there are several hundred varieties.

Canda LePage of Brownsville says pan dulce conjures up fond memories about family time and being a carefree kid for her, too. “It’s also a very intergenerational thing,” she says, describing her grandmother, who was born in Mexico