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Contra Costa Marketplace - Sept 2016

RESTAURANT REVIEW 3550 San Pablo Dam Road, Suite B1 San Pablo | 510-669-5259 | facebook.com/xiniasbakery Traditional Salvadoran Pastries XINIA’S BAKERY: Salvadoran Panaderia y Pupuseria When Xinia Cruz was a young high school student in her native El Salvador, she was required to work every day after school in her father’s bakery. Although she wasn’t always pleased about having to work with her father in those days, he promised Xinia that she would one day be happy to have learned the skills he taught her. And he was correct! Today, Xinia is the proud owner of Xinia’s Bakery, located in the Plaza Sobrante on the San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante, where customers have the opportunity to try a wide variety of colorful, sweet, and savory authentic Salvadoran foods and pastries. Xinia and her family came to California from El Salvador in 2001 seeking to build a better life in America. Her husband, Julio Sanchez, a general contractor, established his own company, Universal Construction. 36 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 By Vickie Lewis Xinia worked as a pre-school teacher for fifteen years, first for the Richmond School District and then at U.C. Berkeley. She enjoyed teaching very much; but when her husband gave her the opportunity to open her own bakery, she made the decision to become a small business owner. Xinia’s Bakery opened in May 2015, and just over a year later, it continues to grow and evolve into a thriving business, the popularity of which is spreading throughout the Bay Area. When the bakery first opened, the menu consisted primarily of Salvadoran pastries, bread, and desserts. Earlier this year, to stimulate the business and respond to customer requests, Xinia expanded the menu to include other popular Salvadoran food items, including, but not limited to pupusas, tamales, sandwiches, plantains, empanadas, and


Contra Costa Marketplace - Sept 2016
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