Larsen’s Bakery-Where quality
stands the test of time.
By
Erik Schultz
Published September 2005
Larsen’s Danish Bakery has been a
Seattle institution for 30 years.
Customers entering this fine
Ballard bakery under the sign of
the golden crown and pretzel, the
traditional symbol of the Danish
bakers, are enticed by aromas of
cinnamon, cardamom, almond and
chocolate. Cases of the finest
baked goods tempt the most
resolute with a fantastic variety.
Poul Larsen, the
bakery’s founder has been baking
his whole life. At the age of 14
he apprenticed with some of the
most accomplished bakers and
pastry chefs in Copenhagen,
Denmark. He arrived in Seattle in
1972 and opened the bakery in
1974. When Poul opened his bakery
he also started a wholesale
warehouse in Lynwood in which they
shipped throughout the country
with success in Internet and mail
orders. That warehouse is now
closed while Poul focuses on his
Ballard location but the Internet
is still vital with tourist
learning about this artisan and
stopping by for a bite. You might
also recognize their name from
years serving Seattle area QFC’s.
Poul had a shop in
Demark, but in “Denmark you have
all the same pastries but here you
have a variety. Very diversified.”
He feels at home in beautiful
Ballard.
Christmas is a busy
time of year for Larsen’s. People
line up around the block for a
nice fresh Kringle and buy 50 to
100 at a time. Lawyers and real
estate agents come to buy them for
clients and for corporate parties.
They also have a long-standing
partnership with fellow Danish
business owners of Molbak’s, which
is one of the eastside’s largest
and finest nurseries. Molbak’s
sells Larsen’s signature Kringle’s
during the holiday season.
Larsen’s stays true to
their roots by keeping the quality
of their product consistent over
the years. In times where cost
cutting is the norm Larsen’s pays
for the best ingredients and keeps
their quality up to par. Poul
believes there is the mentality in
other bakeries that customers
won’t know the difference in
product but he knows the customer
can tell and wants to make sure
they are getting the best tasting
pastries out there.
The bakery is a
landmark. They stand firm on their
beliefs. They keep their customers
for life and now are serving 2nd
and even some 3rd
generations. What keeps them
grounded? Their constant hands on
approach to quality. Larsen’s also
features a variety of tantalizing
Danish wedding cakes personally
delivered by Poul and his wife.
They love being involved in every
aspect of Larsen’s Bakery and this
passion is shown in their fine
fresh baked pastries.
What is a Kringle?
This
pastry is a traditional Danish
favorite and shaped in the
original form as the bakers do in
Denmark. Flaky layers of Danish
filled with almond paste and
raisins are shaped into a pretzel.
Just before it is baked, it is
topped with sugar and sliced
almonds.
©
2006 All content property of European Weekly unless where otherwise
accredited
