There's no free lunch, but there may be free coffee: Russian tea cakes
My mother made Christmas cookies every year: Russian Tea Cakes, lemon bars, Spritz cookies, and frosted sugar cookies shaped like stars, snowmen (Those were the days before the gender discussion), Christmas trees (Those were also the days when elementary schools had Christmas programs), and bells. My favorites were the frosted sugar cookies. You could always tell which ones Ginny and I made—they were the slightly grey ones with mauve frosting and layers of multi-colored sprinkles. It's been years since I've baked cookies—Oh I've rolled a few Snickerdoodles but my skills as a baker are minimal.
My friend Sandy said that Capitola was her favorite spot. Her daughter Nancy said not to miss Gayle's, so I hopped on the #55 bus and rode down the hill, past the lagoon, through Capitola Village, and up Bay Avenue to Gayle's Bakery. I was unprepared for the pandemonium inside.
The parking lot was calm enough, but once in the door, mayhem ensued. People crowded up against the counter, tickets in hand, waving their arms and hooraying once their number was called. A young man, with microphone (glad it wasn't a megaphone), called out a number, the lucky winner stepped up triumphantly, gave their order, collected their food, and paid.
I just wanted lunch, so I beat a hasty retreat to a quiet, outside room with tables expecting "Wait to be seated". It was soon obvious that no one was in charge out there, so I took a deep breath, went back in, and asked a kind looking lady what the rules were. She said, "Get a ticket, crowd up to the deli counter, decide what you want, and be ready to order when they call your number."
The deli counter wrapped halfway around the room and was full of beef roasts, whole hams, turkey breasts, salami, hot dishes, macaroni and cheese, ready-made sandwiches, side salads, pizza slices, short ribs, chicken wings, and much, much more. The bakery counter was as long, with shelves of cookies, tarts, rolls, cakes, pies, petit fours, cream horns, croissants, and brioche. I choose something, anything, and headed for the rear of the room to wait for my call.
Lunch in hand, now I needed water. The beverage bar was down at the other end of the room with self-serve coffee, tea, water, and fountain drinks. Mmmm, coffee smells really good...look over at the counter melee. Do I really want to re-enter the crush to pay for a cup of coffee? No way. So I owe Gayle's $1.75, which I most certainly will pay. The sandwich was good, the broccoli salad was good (but not as good as Lara's), and the co-opted coffee, great. I shamelessly had a refill.
Russian Tea Cakes
1 cup butter, slightly softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts. Form into 1 inch balls.
Bake for fourteen minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Roll in powdered sugar while hot. Let cool, roll in powdered sugar again.
Neighborhood around Gayle's
Elvis has not left this building
Capitola Village
Soquel Creek Lagoon
My friend Sandy said that Capitola was her favorite spot. Her daughter Nancy said not to miss Gayle's, so I hopped on the #55 bus and rode down the hill, past the lagoon, through Capitola Village, and up Bay Avenue to Gayle's Bakery. I was unprepared for the pandemonium inside.
The parking lot was calm enough, but once in the door, mayhem ensued. People crowded up against the counter, tickets in hand, waving their arms and hooraying once their number was called. A young man, with microphone (glad it wasn't a megaphone), called out a number, the lucky winner stepped up triumphantly, gave their order, collected their food, and paid.
I just wanted lunch, so I beat a hasty retreat to a quiet, outside room with tables expecting "Wait to be seated". It was soon obvious that no one was in charge out there, so I took a deep breath, went back in, and asked a kind looking lady what the rules were. She said, "Get a ticket, crowd up to the deli counter, decide what you want, and be ready to order when they call your number."
The deli counter wrapped halfway around the room and was full of beef roasts, whole hams, turkey breasts, salami, hot dishes, macaroni and cheese, ready-made sandwiches, side salads, pizza slices, short ribs, chicken wings, and much, much more. The bakery counter was as long, with shelves of cookies, tarts, rolls, cakes, pies, petit fours, cream horns, croissants, and brioche. I choose something, anything, and headed for the rear of the room to wait for my call.
Lunch in hand, now I needed water. The beverage bar was down at the other end of the room with self-serve coffee, tea, water, and fountain drinks. Mmmm, coffee smells really good...look over at the counter melee. Do I really want to re-enter the crush to pay for a cup of coffee? No way. So I owe Gayle's $1.75, which I most certainly will pay. The sandwich was good, the broccoli salad was good (but not as good as Lara's), and the co-opted coffee, great. I shamelessly had a refill.
Russian Tea Cakes
1 cup butter, slightly softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts. Form into 1 inch balls.
Bake for fourteen minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Roll in powdered sugar while hot. Let cool, roll in powdered sugar again.
Neighborhood around Gayle's
Elvis has not left this building
Capitola Village
Soquel Creek Lagoon
Posted by Marla Nichols at 12/21/2011 9:48 AM 
Categories: Dessert
Tags: Russian tea cakes Gayles Bakery Capitola Christmas cookies Soquel Cre
Categories: Dessert
Tags: Russian tea cakes Gayles Bakery Capitola Christmas cookies Soquel Cre
Loved the pics!
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