A new bakery has opened on Coral Way, bringing French-style pastries to the neighborhood. Baker 305 is located at 2960 Coral Way and it officially opened on Sep. 14, hosting a family-run, warm and welcoming atmosphere. Before opening the shop, the Montelongo family sold their baked goods to wholesale places like Carrot Express, Graziano’s and ATN smile. Opening a bakery of their own had always been a dream and although they went through many obstacles, their dream became a reality, now thriving in the heart of the Gables and regionally recognized.
“My mom and I love croissants and we try new ones almost every week. We went to Baker305 and I have to say, it was truly one of the best ones I have ever had. In my opinion, the bakery has a bright future ahead,” sophomore Siena Sanchez said.
The owning family, the Montelongos, is involved in different competitions every year, but the baking competition at the National Hotel Miami is their main focus and an annual tradition for the bakery. They compete in Best Baguette and Croissant Competition, considering these pastries the staple of baking and their craft. Baker 305, after having perfected their staple pastries, won the second best croissant and best baguette in all of Florida this year.
“I am so proud of our dad. This year, our air conditioning wasn’t working and the croissants are very delicate, we were so worried it would ruin or chances of winning. The chemistry in the croissants was messed up a bit because of the heat, but we were still really grateful to be able to compete and even win in some categories,” senior Irela Montelongo said.
The competition hosted the judges but also the public, who payed around $25 to walk through and try all of the different bakeries’ pastries. There were about six judges and some came all the way from France to judge. By the end of the night, they called everyone up and announced the winners. The whole Montelongo family attended the event to support their dad, Yusel Montelongo, who has competed for years and even earned Best Pain au Chocolat in Florida in the past. This title came with a trip to France, where he competed internationally.
“I go to France every year and I have to say that these pastries gave me a taste of the country, they are genuinely authentic. I was not surprised when this bakery won Best Baguette. It was truly a wonderful delicacy,” sophomore Gabrielle Boute said.
The competition itself was a big event, filled with excitement and flavor. Each bakery had its own table with samples for people to try and the room was packed with visitors walking around tasting pastries. The judges carefully examined every baguette and croissant for texture, flavor and appearance. Even with so many talented bakers there, Baker 305 stood out for its flavor and quality. Winning Best Baguette and Second Best Croissant in Florida, this year was a huge achievement, especially after all the family have endured.
“We had another bakery before, but it didn’t work out because of some business partners. We had to start all over in debt. It was really hard, but we are proud we made it,” senior Irela Montelongo said.
Baker 305 has become a favorite spot on Coral Way for its careful artistry, authentic flavor and family-owned background. The Montelongo family worked hard to make their dream come true and their success shows how much they care about what they do. Winning in the competition solidified the fact that this bakery has a place to stay in the Gables community and will remain the go-to-spot for authentic, yet local, pastries and bread.
