An Alligator You Can Eat

History

Chances are if you've grown up in Southern California you've sampled a delicious pastry, cake or cookie from Viktor Benes Bakery. If not, you're in luck as this 50-year-old bakery is right inside in Calabasas.

In 1920, Viktor Benes, a baker, immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia and set up shop in Chicago. Eventually, he moved to Southern California and ran a successful bakery with savory treats. Upon his death, two bakers from Italy, Ugo Mamolo and Ruggero Terzuolo, took over.

His legacy has carried on with his famous recipes for baked goods using natural and fresh ingredients. When you bite into freshly baked bread or a cookie while sipping on an espresso, you'll feel like you've hit the streets of Italy.

The Alligator

The signature delight from Viktor Benes is the infamous Alligator. It's a delicious coffee cake that's appropriate for any occasion. A mix of pecans, butter and egg make this yummy treat.

You can order a large, medium or baby size or nibble some bits. Despite having an array of baked goods to choose from, owner Ugo Mamolo says the Alligator is what they're known for. Enjoy a piece of heaven and bite into this traditional favorite.

Cookies and Pastries

Growing up in Southern California, I have fond memories of getting a Viktor Benes happy face, butterfly or Christmas tree shortbread cookie. Starting at $2, these cookies are, in my opinion, some of the best around. With the fun shapes and sugary fondant icing, the cookies are festive and make great gifts. The shapes change throughout the year depending on the season.

The bakery also has a bevy of traditional cookies to munch on. You can order just one, a small box or a large platter. Traditionally, they sell cookies by the pound, with prices ranging from $2 to $8 per. Also enjoy florentines, cinnamon hearts, raspberry shells, sprinkle cookies (my favorite!), rugelach, macaroons and chocolate fingers, just to name a few.

Viktor Benes offers more than 20 cookie varieties to choose from. They also offer large individual cookies like chocolate chip, meringue sheel, black and white and oatmeal raisin. If you're having a special event they can customize a round cookie platter for you.

If you like pastries, arrive early in the morning to catch the aroma of fresh-baked muffins, including lemon poppy seed, pumpkin, carrot, banana nut, blueberry and chocolate chip. Enjoy a delicious danish with your morning cup of joe. Try a brioche, scone, croissant, custard snail, cinnamon pull-apart or bear claw. Different flavors and fillings are offered.

Viktor Benes has a variety of pastry slices. Depending on the season there are different selections to choose from. My personal favorite is the carrot cake or mini fruit tart. Enjoy a Napoleon, brownie with walnuts, mini eclair, chocolate truffle or even a strawberry dipped in chocolate.

Cakes and Pies

Viktor Benes has a terrific selection of freshly baked cakes and pies. Choose from a variety of coffee cakes, pound cakes and pies. Their flavor combinations are traditional but the fresh ingredients set them apart from other bakeries.

Around the holidays I love the pumpkin and apple pies, but in the summer months the lemon meringue or cherry are delicious. Add a glass of wine and your summer evening is set! In the morning enjoy a slice of pound cake, whether banana nut, chocolate, marble or just plain original.

The coffee cakes come in a variety of different flavors. Keep it simple with an angel food cake, cinnamon loaf, poppy seed loaf or sponge cake. Spice it up a bit with a pineapple upside-down cake, Kahlua cake, almond ring or Bailey's cake. If you like strudels you can pick from apple, cheese, cherry or poppy seed. Chances are good you will find just what you're craving.

And what about their showcase cakes? These amazing creations, which start at $25, look too pretty to eat. The well-loved chocolate Parisian is a classic, sinful delight and the luscious fruit torte is the  perfect treat for a summer afternoon. With more than 30 different cakes to choose from, it's hard to decide. My personal favorites are the Oreo, red velvet, shiny fudge cake and German chocolate cake.

And That's Not All

In case you need a little more convincing to get you to set foot in this bakery, Viktor Benes offers a whole lot more. Every morning there's a selection of fresh baked breads and rolls. They also customize egg challa twists that serve from 20 to 100 people. Pick up some whole wheat, pumpernickel, rye, brioche, monkey or cinnamon raisin bread.

To cool down during the summer, enjoy some creamy gelato. Best part? This tasty Italian dessert has half the fat and fewer calories than traditional ice cream. Gelatos are offered by the scoop, or you can whip it up into a shake. They have a variety of sorbet flavors like peach, pear, blood orange, cantaloupe, mango, lemon, raspberry, pomegranate and pink grapefruit. Enjoy traditional flavors from the streets of Rome like amaretto, pistachio, chocolate mint, tiramisu, hazelnut or caramel.