Porto’s Bake at Home

You probably read the title of this post a few times Porto’s Bake at Home?? And you probably wondered, “Have all my Cuban pastry – since I don’t live in Miami – dreams come true?” Today the answer to that would be a resounding, *“Si! Como no!”  That’s a big fat Cuban, *“YES, PLEASE!”

{Disclosure: I have not been compensated for writing this post, but I did receive some goodies from Porto’s Bake at Home to try and so that I could review. The opinions contained are all mine.}

Porto’s Bakery – our favorite place to get fresh Cuban pastelitos de guayaba and various and sundry Cuban foods here in Southern California – has started an amazing new service: Porto’s Bake at Home. 

I know. Shut up.

They have just a few items on the Bake at Home Menu so far: 

1. Refugiados (Guava & Cheese Pastry) 
2. Cheese Rolls – Their most delicious, best selling item! 
3. Guava Strudel – that’s Porto’s code for Pastelitos de Guayaba.
4. Meat Pie – which is Pastel de Carne to you.
5. Dulce de Leche Besito (Kiss) Cookie – one of our very favorites, because… Hello! Dulce de Leche! 

I would love it if they would add their famous Potato Balls to this list, but that’s not important right now.

Because I have the distinct honor and privilege to be a member of the Cuban Heritage Committee here in Los Angeles, and also because I count Betty Porto as a friend, I was asked if I’d like to participate in the beta-test of their first foray into shipping delicious frozen Cuban treats ready to bake at home. Again, I answered with a hearty, “Si! Como no!” (*see translation above.) 

Full disclosure: we live about 30 minutes away from one of the Porto’s Bakeries, and also, I make my own homemade pastelitos de guayaba (don’t judge me), but we totally swoon over their Cheese Rolls and the Dulce de Leche Besitos. So, that’s what I asked them to send me. Por favor! 

I can’t even describe our happiness when this big fat box of Porto’s frozen goodies arrived at our door. It took just 2 days from order to doorstep via FedEx. That sound you hear is me, doing the happy Cuban conga. Thanks, Porto’s!

The frozen pastries come beautifully packaged and still frozen, of course. 

We waited a few days before baking them and were still delighted with the outcome. 

They come packaged with baking parchment to line your pans, and detailed instructions for baking. 

Easy-peasy.

And while we absolutely love going to Porto’s, there’s nothing – NOTHING! –  like that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste. 

Well, fresh-out-of-the-oven-but-let-them-cool-a-bit-because-you’ll-burn-your-mouth taste. 

My son, Adam lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his lovely wife, Alysha and my adorable grandson, Asher. What better candidates for Porto’s Bake at Home than my Cuban kids who are 2,272 miles away from us and that same distance from readily available Cuban treats? 

Cuban pastries delivered right to their door. (Totally winning the “Cuban Care Package From Mom” Olympics here.)

So we had Porto’s send them some Meat Pies and Cheese Rolls.

The meat pies come with a simple syrup and instructions, of course. 

They waited a few days before baking when they were both at home and ready to do a full bake and taste test. 

Adam said, “They kept frozen well and still tasted very fresh even though it took us over a week to make them.” 

I love how my super-talented daughter-in-law styled the photo with her special “Porto’s Bake at Home” hand-lettered sign. Isn’t she the best? 

The boxes they came in are pretty convenient and fit in both our freezers. 

The pastry parchment was a nice touch and the instructions were super easy to understand. Also, the videos on the Porto’s Bake at Home site are easy to follow. 

It was a total bonding experience for us, too, as we did the first taste test together. “Okay, 1-2-3, BITE!” 

At which point Adam declared that the Cheese Rolls should come with a warning: Beware! These are highly addictive!! 

CONGRATULATIONS to our friends at Porto’s for a very successful roll out. I thank you, and my kids on the East Coast thank you. I’m super proud of you for so beautifully representing The Food Of My People.  Oh, the Cubanity! 

Also, rumor has it they’ve already started to work out how to ship their famous Potato Balls (Papas Rellenas) to which I can only respond: “Oooh! Pick me!” *waves hand in the air* 

To order your own Porto’s Bake at Home, or to surprise your Cuban friends who live in “el exilio del exilio,” please use this link:  https://www.portosbakery.com/bakeathome/

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