When Really Rather moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, we readily admit that among the things we miss most, in addition to our fabulous family and friends, is the authentic taste of LA we couldn’t resist from Porto’s.
For the uninitiated, Porto’s was founded when Cuban baker extraordinaire Rosa Porto and her family emigrated to California, with only the clothes on their backs. Rosa began baking and selling cakes to friends and family, and within a couple of years, it was not uncommon to see a line of customers picking up cakes from Rosa’s small home.
In 1976, Rosa and her husband Raul, Sr. opened her first official storefront, Porto’s Bakery on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. Their three children, Beatriz, Raul Jr., and Margarita helped out at the bakery after school and on weekends. After graduating from college, the siblings took on larger roles within the business and helped it expand to LA icon status.
Rosa passed away in 2019, but has seen her bakery with humble beginnings gradually grow into five locations, one in Glendale, Burbank, Downey, Buena Park, and West Covina, with a sixth location in Northridge on the way.
Anyone who’s ever lived in the LA area has probably stopped into a Porto’s for a quick lunch with friends (the bakeries also have sit down restaurants), or celebrated a birthday with one of their famous custom baked cakes.
Then there are the countless showers, Super Bowl parties and company meetings, etc., all made more appealing by take-out from Porto’s. Just knowing their signature Cheese Rolls™, Potato Balls™, and chicken and ham croquettes are going to be served is enough to make you cancel all other plans and battle insane LA traffic and parking STAT.
So we were absolutely thrilled/gobsmacked/relieved when, shortly after we arrived in Las Vegas, we were informed that Porto’s now ships bake at home pastries nationwide! They arrive unbaked and frozen, so you can pop them in your own oven, and in practically no time, and with almost zero effort, you can enjoy an authentic taste of LA no matter which state you call home!
We were sent samples to try, and were amazed not only by how great they tasted, but how delicious they looked—we have an irritating penchant for failing presentation, but these babies are absolutely fool proof. They’re also all surprisingly hearty and filling, so you don’t have to eat a lot to be satisfied.
Here’s but a meager sampling of the bake at home wonders you can order from Porto’s:
5 Ways to Enjoy an Authentic Taste of LA from Porto’s
Signature Potato Balls
These delectable morsels contain Porto’s signature potato puree filled with Rosa’s original picadillo (Cuban style ground beef with onion, bell pepper, olive, and Spanish seasonings) wrapped in a crispy panko crust.
Chicken Croquettes (Croqueta de Pollo)
These hearty guys look every bit as fun as they taste. They’re traditional croquettes made with bechamel, chicken, garlic, parsley and Spanish seasonings. Que rico!
Chicken Empanadas
Rosa’s original recipe includes savory and flakey hand pie crust filled with Cuban-style chicken fricassee (slow-cooked chicken breast, carrot, raisins, peas, onion, tomato sauce, and Spanish seasonings). We’re not big raisin fans, but we still love these tasty guys!
Milk’N Berries® Cake
And for those of you with a sweet tooth, this is a Porto’s original sponge cake heavily-soaked with Rosa’s original Tres Leches (condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream, and a touch of brandy), layered with whipped cream and a blend of blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. It’s finished with whipped cream on top and serves 10-12. It comes frozen, so all you have to do is thaw for 24 hours before serving.
Rosa’s Guava Pie
This is one of the first pastries Rosa sold from her kitchen, and a Porto’s Bake at Home exclusive. We couldn’t believe how easy it was, and how beautiful it looked when we popped it out of the oven. It’s basically traditional puff pastry made with European style butter and filled with Porto’s signature guava jam. Serves 8.
Every Angeleno knows that Porto’s serves up an unrivaled and authentic taste of LA — find out how you can enjoy that anywhere.
