Palmetto Avenue has a new stop for those with a sweet tooth: Pacificakes, Pacifica's very own gourmet bakery. 

As it turns out, the new spot is the result of a lifetime of eating well. 

“I grew up with real food,” Pacificakes owner Mariel Berry said. Berry developed her approach to dining based on a childhood filled with homemade food lovingly cooked by her mother. Frozen food was a concept that she never knew existed until leaving her home country of Argentina.

Argentina, the second largest country in South America and Latin America’s third-largest economy, is also the world's fifth most important wine producer. With wine tourism being an important component of the Argentine economy, what is served with that wine is equally as vital. Dishes made from all-natural, fine-quality ingredients are essential to a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Educated by her mother’s cooking methods and with years of culinary background behind her, Berry brings her knowledge and expertise to Pacifica in the form of baked goods. Berry approaches her baking with a simple dictum: “My products are natural. It’s very important these days and it’s rare.”

A book Berry strongly identified with is Food Technology. She finds it quite alarming that most of us don’t know what we’re eating.

“My cookies are basically flour, butter and sugar," she said. "We really need to know what we’re eating. How do we know what effect the food we’re eating is having when we don’t even know what we’re eating?”

With that in mind, all of the production occurs in full view of the customer. The preparation station and baking ovens are located across from the store counter. The arrangement doesn't leave much space for seating. Berry will pack up your cupcakes or cookies so that you can take a stroll on the pier. To her, this the point of living in Pacifica -- the scenic views.

“I like Pacifica, I think it’s a great town and look at it as a hidden jewel," Berry said. "A lot of people know about this jewel now so I’m lucky to be here. It’s a beautiful place. When you watch those beach movies, you think that the water is warm. Oh, California. With all the surfers and you think, you’re going to the Caribbean and then you find out that the water is so cold.”

Although Berry has been in Pacifica for 10 years, the weather can still be a challenge, but she is quick to point out that she loves the fog. She lives in the sunny part of Pacifica, which will cause her to forget a jacket and arrive in the Palmetto Avenue, where it’s foggy.

“You have to be prepared for the Pacifica microclimate,” she said. 

Running a new business means taking only one day off a week. For fun, she and her children will go to the park, playground or take the dogs for a walk. One of their favorite spots is Pedro Point because of the impressive view.

“At night, (seeing) all the lights on the hill, it’s beautiful,” she said.  She also enjoys eating, of course, and one of her favorites is homemade french fries: “My husband is English and makes the best chips.”

The best part of a good day off is going to the movies. The highlight of a good day at the bakery is developing new cake flavors. 

Among the many flavors to choose from: light vanilla cake with meringue buttercream frosting and rich chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. Take a look at the photo gallery above for other cake flavors.

Berry enjoys learning which flavors end up as customer favorites. Most of all, she is looking forward to meeting and getting to know more community members. 

“I love that it is a big town but it’s a small town at the same time,” Berry said.

"It makes it easier for people to get to really know each other."