International Bakeries Satisfy Sweet Cravings

Norcross is one sweet town ­– literally.  Norcross residents have a slew of international bakeries at their disposal that concoct confectionary goodness ranging from decorative cakes to specialty croissants, Mexican breads to Chinese buns.
 
If you live in Norcross, you can get French, Latin, and Asian desserts to satisfy your sweet craving just a few miles from your home.  Here is a petite morsel, a small sampling of what Norcross has to offer:
 
La Churreria Café and Bakery
This Columbian bakery in the Centro Norcross shopping center at 5730 Buford Hwy, just a few doors down from Guadalaraja Supermarket, has one of the biggest and best selections of Latin desserts around.  You’re greeted by a smiling, friendly employee behind a display case of fresh foods to your left. Some of the items, such as the arepas de choclo, are kept warm under heat lamps to preserve the flavor.  A corn griddle cake with cheese, stuffed full of sweet corn, each bite oozes with warm buttery goodness.  Another highlight is the concha,  a spiral, snail-like sweet bread that is perfect for breakfast or as a snack. 

To your right, you’ll find a wall with several display cases stacked with trays of homemade desserts, such as sugar coated donuts and breads.  If you satisfy your sweet tooth and want a heartier meal, you can also walk next door to Mr. Valdez, a Latin café connected to the bakery.
 
La Providencia Bakery
Directly across Buford Highway from La Churreria lies another Latin bakery, with cakes, breads and ice creams available.  The tres leches cake is one of the most popular items, said baker Gregoria Gomez.

Many of the desserts are made using family recipes sent from relatives in Oaxaca, Mexico.  The bakery offers a variety of bolillos, Mexican breads and a cream-filled bread called Mantecadas is also a hit with regulars.
 
Vanille Cakes and Pastries
There’s no mistaking the primary purpose behind this Vietnamese bakery located to the left of the Hong Kong Supermarket off Jimmy Carter Boulevard.  Not only is the shop’s main draw in its name, but displays of colorful beautifully decorated, decadent layer cakes adorn the interior.

“My specialty is the wedding cake,” said manager Bic Le, a Vietnamese native who has been baking for 22 years and draws on a heavy French influence.   Le, a former assistant pastry chef of 11 years at Atlanta’s Westin Peachtree Plaza before coming to Vanille, also takes pride in making special ordered cakes for all occasions.

You don’t need to be seeking a tailor-made culinary masterpiece for a big event, however, to eat at Vanille as there are smaller pastries such as angel cupcakes.  Sort of like an angel food cake for one, the light, fluffy and not overly sweet cupcake is the best in-store seller, Le said.
 
Hong Kong Supermarket
This Vietnamese grocery store gives you plenty of dessert and bakery options.  When you enter the store, you will find the No. 1 Hong Kong Bakery to your left at the front of the store, and Angel Bakery to your right on the side adjacent to Suno Dessert.  No. 1 Hong Kong Bakery sells plain and flavored croissants (pineapple and chocolate, for example), freshly made French rolls (a bargain at 3 for $1) and a number of popular Vietnamese dishes, ranging from steam pork rolls to the ever popular banh mi sandwiches and sweet drinks.
Angel Bakery, meanwhile, specializes in buns with stuffings such as hot dog onion, corn, taro, green bean and custard pineapple.  The buns are individually wrapped in plastic bags. The bakery also has cookies, cakes, smoothies, teas and coffees available.
 
Celso’s Cakes
While custom ordered specialty cakes are the main attraction, owners Celso and Pavla Rodriguez also offer a selection of pastries and coffee to enjoy on site in the Dawson Boulevard cafe.  A variety of cupcakes – sort of a single size version of their decadent cakes – are particularly popular, with flavors such as vanilla, lemon and chocolate.

And, an honorable mention: El Itacate Bakery
Owners Beatriz and Sergio Velazquez sell wedding cakes, mixed pastries, and sweet breads in their Mexican bakery in the Norcross Plaza.

Editor's Note: We mistakenly identified the location of La Churreria Café and Bakery. It is next to Guadalaraja Supermarket, not El Brito. Our apologies for the mistake.