I am on a hunt to find really good gluten-free pastries (when I can afford to indulge). The almond crescent I tasted at this restaurant's smaller cafe packed a punch of flavor that set it apart from the gluten-free offerings from the downtown area. The marzipan filling was baked to a chewy yet consistent texture, with the accompanying glaze on top the right mixture of subtle almond syrup and egg white encasing sliced almonds on top. A generous portion of almonds in dark chocolate ganache sealed the ends of the crescent, and the ganache did not overpower the pastry, but delicately accented the almond and marzipan.
I have tried gluten-free offerings at another popular local bakery (muffins, $2.50 each), and they were a good size, yet some flavor was lost in their translation to a gluten-free version. This almond pastry ($3.50), cost a little more, but I received a 4"" x 1/2"" portion of pastry at the quality of desserts I have tasted at only one other patisserie in Santa Cruz County: Gayle's in Capitola; and marzipan pastries available at a specialty store in Carmel.
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