Items Selected:
Americano…read moreBay Biscuit
Mil Hojas Dulce de Leche
Alfajores
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Marble Plum Cake with Pears
Dark Chocolate and Apple Cake
Fancied by locals and tourists alike as one of the best bakeries and breakfast nooks in all of Valencia it was on the first Sunday of a trip to Eastern Spain that a stop was made at Dulce de Leche on Carrer de Jesús, both the scene and the cuisine living up to its praise with service that, despite language barriers, goes above and beyond what is expected to assure each guest a great experience.
The more sizable of two locations, another visited just 27-hours later in the city's Ruzafa area far more crowded and loud, guests visiting Dulce de Leche Jesus at any time of day will likely find the café busy and after waiting in a small queue the largest issue is one of deciding what *not* to order from a collection of more than fifty choices, made to order coffee the only things delaying guests from collecting their goods and eating immediately with numbered cards handed out along with an invitation to take a seat as items are plated.
Populated with about 90% locals, many of them clearly regulars based on the manner in which they were greeted by staff, it was on the far side of a wooden picnic table that a seat was taken followed by perhaps five minutes wait as a smooth Americano was prepared, the radio overhead American and largely ignorable with the setting shabby-chic and relaxing, a total of six items soon to arrive including a flaky Argentinean "Bay Biscuit" provided complimentary as the young lady at the register had difficulty describing what was essentially laminated dough crusted in Sugar with a savory linger that seemed to be from creamy White Cheese as opposed to Buttermilk.
Offering savories in addition to the sweets, the former not really of much interest despite the fact that all of it looked quite nice, Breakfast progressed with two small Alfajores that outperformed those Stateside thanks to both the quality of the Caramel and unsweetened Coconut used for balance, the freshly-made Mil Hojas also quite successful with the Pastry layers still flaky and crisp with the thick Dulce de Leche creating no sog.
Almost overwhelming in terms of Cake choices, the American practice of only offering a select-few by the slice completely the opposite as staff was seen cutting large wedges of more than a dozen choices for patrons as early as 08h15, those looking for a truly remarkable Carrot Cake are encouraged to give Dulce de Leche a chance as the traditional sweetness of Pineapple is replaced by bold spicing which allows both Walnuts and grated Vegetables to shine beneath light icing, both the Dark Chocolate with Apple and Marble Plum Cake with Pears eating like "Ooey Gooey" Butter Cake with rich Streusel topping atop a smooth Fruit base.
