Spring Escapes: Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria

The sun is out and shining so here’s your next off campus trip

Azariah Joel
The Santa Clara
April 18, 2019

Spring quarter is upon us, but that doesn’t stop us from ditching class to soak up that California sun. Whether you’re a first-year or a senior about to graduate, this quarter is when homework assignments are typically a second-tier priority, and students everywhere look to escape campus.

With sunlight pouring down, Santa Cruz has some of the best restaurants and cafes to explore. Whether you’re looking to grab some delicious food before a hike or after a long day on the beach, Gayle’s Bakery is the place to go.

This little bakery is tucked on the sidewalk just four minutes from Capitola Beach in Santa Cruz. With their indoor and outdoor seating, you can enjoy the ocean breeze flowing through the air.

The bakery is constantly packed with locals, which signals to the high caliber of the food. Parking can be limited, which is why you may notice most people traveling on foot to get their baked goods. The lines can look intimidating, but you won’t wait more than 10 minutes before being helped. As soon as you walk in, there is an old-fashioned ticket dispenser that assigns you a number to determine when you will be helped. Feels retro, no?

American foods and miscellaneous traditional baked goods abound at Gayle’s and all at reasonable prices. Sure, you can go to Starbucks and get your muffin and blended mocha drink, but Gayle’s offers quality and quantity—something that may be difficult to find in the Bay Area at a fair price.

A popular menu item at Gayle’s is their spinach gorgonzola pasta. The crisp, golden dish comes on a piping hot plate with fusilli pasta oozing in a pool of melted cheese. Each bite is delicious and the consistency feels homemade. The pasta resembled Whole Foods’ wellknown hot bar mac and cheese but with more flavor and bang for your buck.

It’s hard to resist all their beautifully baked pastries as they are exhibited openly on both ends of the building. If you feel unsure about what to choose, their friendly team of employees can make recommendations and offer samples.

Next, their olallieberry cream cheese danish and hot cross buns will help tie any loose ends if you aren’t already full from your meal. There is a wide variety of danishes filled with fruit or simply topped with glaze.

Each pastry is freshly baked before sunrise and you can feel the soft, buttery, flaky bun melt in your mouth with each bite.

If you can’t decide which danish to get, the bakery offers figure eight pastries that combine two separate flavors for your liking. The ratio of sweet to tart is just perfect and will satisfy any craving.

Contact Azariah Joel at ajoel@ scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.