Merefa, is now a big let down…read more
What started as the best European grocery/deli & bakery, has deflated back into just a "Great European grocer."
The good news is, it's still a great European grocery. But, the owner told me he has given up on the bakery.
Last time I was in, the owner, who is a very lovely man, told me he has given up on the bakery part of the business.
I asked if he had any raspberry crossants and he said "No" and I asked him if he had any "Vatrushka" and he said; "No, we aren't making the Vatrushka anymore, it's just too time consuming, it's too hard, we don't have time, we weren't making any money making the Vatrushka, so we aren't making them anymore, it is what it is."
He went on to tell me that he is selling a pre-packaged one from NYC & that it's pretty good, tried to sell me those, which I refused.
If you don't know what "Vatrushka" is, it's "Russian Vatrushka." It's a pastry filled with farmers cheese & cow berry.
Vatrushka is a staple of Russian baking.
A gorgeous round, open-faced pastry with a creamy cottage cheese/farmers cheese, with a spot of beautiful purple cowberry/elderberry filling.
A super luxurious pastry somewhat like a cheese danish that blends somewhere between dessert and breakfast, offering a gentle sweetness wrapped in soft, yeasted dough. Moi fave. My specialty OuiOui.
I'm so very saddened to hear of anyone giving up on their business bc they can't make it work, bc it's too hard, it's too much work, not makin any profits bla bla bla.
But i'm just over the moon, really excited for you, that you have decided to go the direction of deli & convenience store only, if that makes more sense for you, that's awesome, you have my blessing.
And I am just over the moon excited that you have given me your blessing, that I myself or anyone may now open a Vatrushka shop here in Pensacola, since you have given up on it.
Maybe when I open my art gallery here in Pensacola, I will serve my own Russian American Vatrushka. See what happens..
Unfortunately, "Merefa" has now been downgraded one star and taken off my "Best Bakeries list" but it is still one of my favorite European deli's in Pensacola & is still on my "Where are the Treasures lists for fave grocer/deli's."
Will Return.