Everytime I go back to MIA I have to do the obligatory "pastelitos" visit. Since I fly AA, it is more convenient for me to visit La Carreta inside the terminal. So which one is your favorite? Cream cheese, guava, combo, meat or coconut? I am partial to the cream cheese one. The best pastries that I have found are from this mom and pop bakery located on Coral Way by Sweetwater.
SFO is a great food destination but it lacks good Cuban eateries and from time to time I get the craving for pastries, although the other day I found out something similar to the cream cheese pastelitos called cheese puffs at Goldilocks (a Filipino bakery). I have seen this item being offered here recently so maybe a staff traveled to Miami and got inspired.
I feel hungry just by reading your post.
I usually go to SW 8th street where La Carreta and Versailles are located right opposite each other. Versailles has a pastry shop separate from its main restaurant. If I arrive in Miami at decent hours, I would stop by Versailles pastry shop for a take out of assorted pastries (including beef/chicken/tuna empanadas, croquettas, etc.) and a few Cuban sandwiches to take to Boca Raton for my family to enjoy. On the way out of Miami, I would stop by and do the same take out for my trip back to DC.
Cream cheese and combo (with guava) are my two favorites. I also like the meat one sometimes for a change of taste. I am also big Cuban sandwiches....but you cannot have too many of those when reaching mid-age.
