Tag Archives: Manuel Alvarez

Brownsville Bakers Find Sweet Spot With H-E-B

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Manuel Alvarez and his wife, Nadia Escalante, sit at their display at H-E-B offices in highlighting their Japanese cheesecakes. (Courtesy)

Manuel Alvarez and his wife, Nadia Escalante, started out with an at-home bakery in Brownsville, creating their Pastel Japones. Said another way, they are Japanese cotton cheesecakes. The popularity of the fluffy sponge-looking cake would take off. In part it was due to the uniqueness of the product in the Rio Grande Valley market. It’s a region filled with pan dulce shops and custom cake bakeries.  It’s difficult to find…

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Bakery Finds Sweet Niche Across RGV

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Japanese cheesecakes, freshly made and in boxes, for delivery to various Rio Grande Valley locations. (Courtesy)

Manuel Alvarez describes himself as a persistent sort, who once putting his mind to something is not easily deterred.  Those personal attributes were put to the test when Alvarez took on the challenge of being a baker of detail-heavy Japanese cotton cheesecakes. With the help of his wife Nadia Escalante, Alvarez would “start a business out of nowhere.” Rio Grande Valley communities are dotted with pan dulce shops and long-standing…

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