Scandia Bakery Deli succeeds on busy Forest Avenue
Glori Fickling
Busy Forest Avenue in Downtown Laguna Beach is a mecca of restaurants
and art galleries. I like to call it gallery/restaurant row.
Though the street has a history of too-frequent dining closings
over the decades, there’s good news that in two long-vacant sites we
recently welcomed the prestigious Brussels Bistro and now an
affordable Italian trattoria is in the offing. Among the few winners
who have succeeded over years is the Scandia Bakery and Deli, which
has been under the same ownership for an extraordinary quarter of a
century.
Chalk up its success to the hospitable Tabrizi family, mother
Roshan, her gracious sons Hamid, Ben and Mitch and their respective
spouses. Back in the 50s local Lagunans should remember the site as
Trotter’s which changed hands and a name or two several times over
the decades. Scandia’s main attraction looks to be the sprawling
showcase of irresistibly delectable cakes, pastries and cookies
displayed near the entrance. You will always find admiring patrons
standing in line awaiting take-out or dine-in service to devour the
superb taste sensations impeccably created on the premises.
Farther back, past the opposing wall enhanced with the paintings
of famed local artist Ruth Mayer, you will discover two glass fronted
presentations of assorted salads and entrees. These tempting
arrangements coupled with printed wall menus are at the ready to
expedite one’s choices. More than a dozen lunch and dinner
embellishments on view include piroshki, tabbouleh, quiches, salads
of Chinese chicken, tortellini, tuna, pasta, potato and more. These
range from $2.75 for a small green salad going to $5.50 for more
hefty items.
Lunch is available from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and prior to that,
starting at 6 a.m. breakfast is the order of the day. This consists
of those luscious sweet rolls, pastries, exotic teas and the wide
varieties of coffees flavored with hazelnut, Irish cream, vanilla,
chocolate raspberry and cafe Americana.
Your choice of half-and-half or milk are on a rear serving station
to add as you please along with such flavorings as ground cinnamon
and cocoa powder. And of course there are cappuccinos, mochas and
lattes along with all kinds of sodas and soft drinks.
Daytime selections are ordered at the counter and served at your
table. Scandia is noted for its baked chicken, a specialty served by
the piece starting at $1.75 with a la carte accompaniments of
vegetables, potatoes and any of the salad temptations. There are
pancakes to order and a variety of breads and rolls are the basis for
a full range of sandwich fillings, these at $3.75 to $5.50. For a
nourishing beginning, try the creamy chicken leak soup and vegetable
meatball potage at $3.50 a serving.
It is those fabulous desserts which will immediately set your
taste buds in motion. Topping the list of more than a hundred
luscious creations is the mile-high strawberry cream puff, a splendid
sensation of tender puff pastry laced with velvety custard, plump
strawberries and whipped cream, the top half crusted with a thick
film of rich, dark chocolate. Priced from $1.75 to $3.25 are plump
napoleons, artistic petit fours, inviting rectangles of tire miso,
chocolate/raspberry Florentines and yummy black forest cake.
Gorgeous layer cakes certain to make any gathering a major success
are tagged at $27, among these, mocha crowned with chocolate spirals,
chocolate lavished with heaps of shaved chocolate, carrot cake spiked
with tiny faux carrots. The Scandia family is further famed for
designing sheet cakes to enhance any occasion.
* GLORI FICKLING is a longtime Laguna Beach resident who has
written restaurant news and views columns since 1966. She may be reached at (949) 494-4710 or by e-mail at ghoneywest@aol.com.
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