Lily’s Bakery

Growing up in Wilmington, CA (a predominantly Hispanic town)
My childhood Sunday mornings consisted of:
My mom waking me at the BUTT CRACK of DAWN,
Mom shoving a dollar in my hand,
Mom pushing me out the front door,
Me RUNNING like a wild child down the block and around the corner !!!
Why, you may ask???
To be one of the first to purchase fresh baked french rolls (a.k.a. Bolillos, Pan de Francais, or what my MOM was calling them… PAN DE SAL) PIPIN’ HOT right out the oven!!!
I would push thru the doors of our neighborhood bakery huffing and puffing… once inside I would stop to catch my breath and deeply inhale the wonderful yumminess of FRESH BAKED goods.
One morning, my friendly baker said, «Mija, tell your mom to wash your face and get the mocos out your eyes before she sends you over, or I won’t sell you any pan!» LOL I’ll never forget that! I guess that’s why I’m so self conscious about my face now!!! Hahahaha! NOT!
Anyways, FAST FORWARD to NOW…
In my NEW HOOD of Paramount, I found this TINY lil’ bakery that makes these rolls exactly (if not BETTER than) how I remember them to be as a child. The inside is so soft and chewy and the outside crust is not hard at all (if you like your crust hard and flaky, let it sit out for a couple of days). They are only 25 cents a piece. This place is a Mexican bakery, so they have the traditional Pan Dulce displayed in cases and they also make cakes for all occasions, especially Tres Leches. I haven’t tried the cakes yet, just the Bolillos which are great!
I’ve been caring for my mom for the pass couple months, and all she’ll ever eat for breakfast is Pan De Sal (bolillos) and coffee, she likes to dip the bread into her coffee. She tears it up within minutes!!! She’s easy to please: oP
Anyways, I think the best way to eat this is to slice it open and spread a thick layer of COLD BUTTER across the roll, then dip into a mug of HOT COCOA!!! The flavors of the sweet chocolate blends well with the saltiness of the now slowly melting butter… Yummmmm!!!
(I know! I know! This can’t be healthy!!!) LOL But it’s OH SOOOO GOOD! Don’t knock it till you try it!