Day Trips: Marina's German Bakery, El Paso

Marina's German Bakery brings a completely different accent to the border town of El Paso. Known for its wonderful neighborhood Mexican panaderías, the westernmost Texas city is an international community with the bakeries to prove it.

The glass bakery case is full of all sorts, shapes, and sizes of European-style gluten. The fresh-baked pretzels are soft and chewy, but the town loves the bakery's many kinds of blended rye and wheat breads. Unfortunately, most of the loaves don't travel well in carry-on luggage. But who can resist a bag of oatmeal cookies for the trip home?

Marina's was named after the second owner's ex-wife. She got the house; he got the bakery they purchased from a German couple connected with Fort Bliss. The ovens came with the Old World recipes. Best of all, the pastry shop came with a reputation among locals and foreign military personnel training at the base.

Michael Groemling had visited the bakery when he was stationed in El Paso with the military. He had learned to bake in Germany and rescued the bake shop from closing. His biggest customers are restaurants around town, but his favorite customers are the locals who stop in for a croissant or coffee, and maybe a loaf of bread.

Marina's German Bakery is at 2033 Trawood at Lomaland in northeast El Paso, not far from I-10. For a full list of their breads and other pastries, go to www.marinasgermanbakery.com. To see what's available, call 915/591-3737.

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