Galvin Bakery & Cafe — a concept by Valery Ketenjian of San Diego’s Alfa Alfajores Bakery — will open at 625 Montana Avenue, in the former Subway space, this November, as first reported by Toddrickallen.com and later confirmed by Ketenjian with What Now Los Angeles.
Born and raised in Uruguay, Ketenjian acquired a cultural passion for baking and an affinity for sweet treats, specifically the alfajor cookie, a traditional confection typically made of flour, honey, and nuts.
After moving to San Diego, Ketenjian enrolled in culinary school before returning to Uruguay to work under renowned Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann.
Still, even after advanced tutelage and years passed, Ketenjian found herself enthralled by her favorite childhood cookie. She sought out “as many artisanal varieties of the [alfajor] she could find” and ultimately left Uruguay with the dream of sharing her discoveries with others.
In 2018, Alfa Alfajores Bakery blossomed.
Like Alfa Alfajores, the incoming Galvin Bakery & Cafe is South American-inspired, with strong wafts from Argentina and Uruguay. “We chose the name [Galvin] in honor of my grandfather, who was a big fan of coffee and pastries,” Ketenjian explains to WNLA. “And we chose Santa Monica for the vibrant food culture here.”
