Cubes

(Wallyhood welcomes all members of our community to contribute to this group blog. This article comes from Elena, a seventh-grader at Hamilton International Middle School. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at [email protected] with your story ideas.)

Hello everyone! I am a local Wallingford girl and my name is Elena. I’m in 7th grade at Hamilton International Middle School. Recently I did an interview with the owners of The Cubes Bakery on 45th Street (2315 N 45th St) for a Spanish project at school (I am in advanced Spanish) and learned so much! For my project, I went to the Cubes Bakery to talk to the owners, Mayra and Kevin, about their experience as bakers and their connections to Hispanic culture.

Mayra is Salvadorean, Mexican, and American. Kevin is Mexican-American. I had many questions to ask about Mexican culture. I learned a lot, but my favorite thing that I learned was about pan dulce (“sweet bread”). Pan Dulce is a bread that is used to offer to deceased loved ones on the day of offering (Día de los Muertos, translating into “Day of the Dead”). The lumps of sugar represent the bones, and the circle represents the circle of life. The dish that Mayra and Kevin have the most fun making is tres leches, or “three milks,” which is a traditional cake soaked in three different types of milk and served with whipped cream.

Mayra learned Spanish because her parents taught her, and Kevin learned Spanish because his grandmother taught him. In Mayra’s house her father always said, “When you’re not home you can speak English, but when you’re home you have to speak Spanish.” Mayra’s favorite Mexican dish is pupusas and Kevin likes empanadas. The first thing Kevin and Mayra learned to cook was eggs. They said that in their families, they ate many eggs.

Kevin started the bakery because he is passionate about baking and needed more money. He had a “Nissan Cube” car, so he created “cube” cakes and originally sold the cakes out of his car. The Cubes Bakery has won many awards including for “Best Cake” and “Best Small Business in West Washington.” They have 3 trophies and 8 awards. I learned a lot about Mexican culture and what kinds of foods are traditional in Mexico. I very much suggest you go to the Cubes Bakery as well and try some of their delicacies! Thanks to Mayra and Kevin for their kindness and answering all my questions!