Sweet Elena’s Bakery
465 D Olympia Ave., Sand City (831) 393-2063, sweetelenas.com
To understand what makes Sweet Elena’s the sweetest, try the olallieberry pie. Or on second thought, don’t – unless you’re prepared to eat the entire thing. But wait! They sell 5-inch tart-sized versions to help mitigate this problem. It’s not your fault Elena Salcedo has been perfecting her recipes for over 20 years, and is attentive to the provenance of her ingredients, choosing organic flour and locally grown berries and apples. It’s not just dessert on offer here; try the salads, paninis or the best of all worlds, the vegetable galette, which lets you eat a savory meal – and still get some of that crusty perfection.