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Contra Costa Marketplace - Sept 2016

RESTAURANT REVIEW Revuelta Pupusa with Pan con Pavo Curtido and Tomato Sauce SEPTEMBER 2016 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 37 even cooked-to-order breakfast items. The new menu items have been exceedingly popular, attracting new customers and also increasing the sales of bakery items. The pupusas are especially popular, and those with a discerning “pupusa palate” claim that Xinia’s are among the best in the bay area. During our visit to Xinia’s, one customer told us that she drives in all the way from Martinez almost every week just to buy Xinia’s pupusas. Similarly, Xinia has been told by some local customers that they used to trek to San Francisco to buy their Salvadoran sweets, but now they buy locally from her bakery. Upon entry to Xinia’s, customers are greeted with a warm “Welcome,” usually from Xinia herself. Being a family owned business, Xinia is primarily assisted by her two daughters, Xinia Vanessa and Julissa, and her son, Jullian. She also has another helper who assists in the kitchen. Xinia and her family provide excellent, personal service to all customers. They take the time to answer any and all questions about the menu items, often explaining the ingredients used to prepare them. She genuinely endeavors to ensure that customers are happy with and enjoy their purchases. The bakery has three large glass display cases arranged in an L-Shape around the counter that are usually filled with fresh and colorful Salvadoran treats. The bright, clean interior of the bakery offers tables and chairs for those wishing to dine in, and there is also outside seating for eight customers at sturdy metal tables. There are no printed menus at Xinia’s, and not all items in the counter displays are labeled. But there is an extensive and informative chalkboard menu mounted on the back wall of the bakery that customers can peruse to read about the many items available for purchase. During our visit, my guest and I felt like we had been welcomed into Xinia’s home. She invited us to have a seat and soon after offered us something to drink. We opted to try the house made aguas frescas, including Salvadoran Horchata, Nance, and a Passion Fruit drink. We also tried a bottle of Salvadoran Coca Champagne, an orange colored beverage that tasted like a blend of crème and orange sodas. Salvadoran Horchata has a distinctly different taste from Mexican Horchata because it is not made with rice, but rather includes ingredients such as cacao and pumpkin seeds. It has a smooth, mildly sweet and chocolaty flavor and was very enjoyable. Nance, made from the pulp of a fruit of the same name, didn’t have much flavor; the passion fruit drink was fruity and refreshing. Monday – Friday 7 AM – 7 PM | Saturday 9 AM – 7 PM | Sunday 9 AM – 4 PM


Contra Costa Marketplace - Sept 2016
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