30 March 2011
“Where the hell did this place come from?” was the first thing I thought as I took a bite of banana cake. “Thank you baby Jesus!” was the second thing I thought as I took another. “$%!*!” was the third, as I realized I was headed back to Managua that very day. I immediately checked my pockets for money to see how many loaves of brick oven cheddar bread, chocolate chip cookies and banana cake I could afford to take back with me. I stocked up and returned to the MGA, deciding I was glad Pan de Vida wasn’t closer to home because if it was I would likely be fat and broke.
Located just down from the Texaco as you come into San Juan del Sur, Pan de Vida is camouflaged by the rest of the houses and businesses on the street and easy to overlook if you are driving. But if you are walking, you would be hard pressed to miss the aromas of fresh baked good emanating from inside.
The first thing you notice as you enter is the large brick oven in the corner. Owners Eric and Stephanie Slater built the oven by hand with helpers, and every morning Eric uses a wood fire to bring it to temperatures topping 600 degrees.
Once the oven is heated, a variety of handmade breads and pastries begin to take shape. While the day-to-day lineup of goodies differs, garlic hearth bread, cinnamon raisin swirl bread, foccacia, gooey chocolate chip cookies, chocolate butter cake and french bread are just a few of the favorites. Pan de Vida offers flavors and textures that simply aren’t found anywhere else in Nicaragua. Visit the Slater’s in San Juan, just make sure to bring an appetite and a little extra money so you can take a few things home for later.
Adress: 100 meters west of the Texaco, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
8379 7549
http://www.facebook.com/PanDeVidaNicaragua
