A five-layer rainbow cake: only a hint of this baker's creativity

They say a lot of Americans took up baking, roughly two years ago this month. I’m not one of them, but during the pandemic I did start paying closer attention to the bakeries doing business around San Diego. I would argue my diet of well-made sourdough loaves, croissants, and eclairs has been more fun. But perhaps not more fun than the baked goods heating up Third Avenue, Chula Vista.

Mmm… Cakes officially opened in the fall, launched by Jose Barajas, the veteran baker and Chula native who’s made a name for himself competing in (and winning) TV baking competitions. Step into the shop and you may spot examples of the artfully whimsical cakes behind the culinary institute grad’s success. If not, it’s truly worth a glance at his Instagram, where photos of his stunning works include cartoonish creations modeled after Baby Yoda, a Mortal Combat arcade game, and Petco Park stadium.

A s'mores cookie: thick graham cracker cookie topped by chocolate chips and toasted marshmallows

Without a doubt, the availability of such custom cakes is a boon to South Bay special occasions, but may not even be the best part. For walk-in customers, Barajas and his familial business partners have put together a pastry menu and café environment worth visiting, and revisiting, just about any day of the week (the bakery’s currently closed Sunday and Monday).

A bakery and cafe designed with Instagram in mind

For starters, you can always get a slice of cake for $8.50. Granted, this will be a slice of a relatively simple, round cake, primarily classics including chocolate, carrot cake, red velvet, and Jamaica’s famous, spiced pineapple and banana Hummingbird cake. You might also spot a daily special, such as a five-layer rainbow cake on display during my recent visit.

The parrot chandelier booth at Mmm... Cakes

Like I said, the place is a lot of fun. In addition to photogenic baked goods — such as a s’mores cookie of thick graham cracker shortbread topped by toasted marshmallows — the place has spirited décor, anchored by palm frond wallpaper, pink neon signs, and a corner booth lit up by a rather mesmerizing stained glass parrot chandelier. A pastry loving coffee drinker could spend a lot of time here.

Cinnamon roll topped by Nutella spread

For all the impressive ingenuity, what may be most clever is how the bakery addresses those everyday pastries that can keep guests coming through the door in between weddings and birthdays. Take cinnamon rolls as an example. Most bakeries offer a cinnamon roll, maybe a choice of glazed of unglazed. At Mmm… Cakes, a single pan of cinnamon rolls may yield several products. For $5, you may choose a glazed orange roll, glazed pecan roll, or one that’s so simple I can’t believe I haven’t tried it before: a cinnamon roll glazed with the hazelnut spread, Nutella.

A savory, chicken pot pie danish

This common base, multiple products approach is taken even further with the bakery’s long list of danishes. From a simple, flaky base, Mmm… Cakes makes plenty of usual and unusual sweet offerings, including a cheese danish, mixed berry, and peanut butter and jelly ($5.25).

More surprising are the litany of savory danishes ($8 apiece). From this, you’ll find breakfast-friendly egg danishes featuring ham, bacon, or chorizo. Or, if you want to skip the eggs, you’ll find a danish filled with rajas (chili and cream); a Thanksgiving danish of turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce; and a chicken pot pie danish that almost fills you up more than a danish ought to.

As I first walked into Mmm… Cakes, I thought to myself, “Third Avenue needed a place like this.” By time I walked out, I was thinking, “My neighborhood needs a bakery like this.”