Gary I.
Yelp
Fama in Spanish means fame or reputation, and in this case, with the wonders they do by making their fruit or cream filled empanadas, which would be called pasties or turnovers in English, would enhance the reputation of any self-respecting panaderia. The interior is spotlessly clean and minimal. That is all that is needed in this great bakery.
Pan Dulce is not my thing since it is too much carbs for me whose belly is ever growing slowly but surely. But I have a weakness for empanadas whether filled with sweets or savory. The meat filled empanadas of Argentine or Filipino fame makes me salivate whenever I think about them.
The pastry that makes up the empanadas at La Fama is a tricky balance of being heavier & bread-like in texture but also having the lighter texture of cake. Contradictory, but La Fama achieves a good textural compromise that makes for a very appealing mouthfeel. Many empanadas I have eaten at less well-versed panaderias have pastry that is too dry and hard that crumbles into mouth drying paste. Yuck! The pastry at La Fama is soft, moist, but also has a good bite to it.
The other deal maker is the slow cooked fruit confiture or jam that has a touch of a thickener (pectin?) to give body to the jam. There is a lot of fruit whether they be guayaba (guava), mango, pina (pineapple), manzano (apple), etc. And the jams at La Fama retain their original fruit flavour unlike many of our commercial American jams which if you closed your eyes, you wouldn't be able to distinguish many of the flavours from each other.
La Fama is an old style panaderia where you first arm yourself with a pair of tongs and a large shield-like aluminum platter. Go around opening up the refrigerated doors and go "loco" taking whatever you like to make you happy. At least for the empanadas, it is one buck each for a truly well constructed superlative pastry. Buen Provecho!
Also starting around November and ending in January when the cold season arrives, La Fama makes the hot masa (corn mash) and chocolate flavoured Champurado, and Tamales of different fillings like pork in chile colorado sauce, chicken and cheese, cheese and jalapenos, sweet pineapple, etc. Their tamales are excellent and worth the detour.
PS There is a county owned small parking lot across the street, and on hot days, Zacatecas Raspados is just next door. Great one stop shopping for satiating your sweet tooth.
