Cachitos is a store unique in its style, since not even in Venezuela could you find a place that specializes solely in the Cachito, with as much variety of flavours and where that magnificent bread takes the starring role.
Cachito is a crescent-shaped roll filled with ham and cheese. It is one of the most popular foods in Venezuela and is fast becoming popular in Montreal. This is in parts thanks to the bakery Cachitos, which is run by two Venezuelan couples, Maria Liliana Madriz and Ruben Ferrer, and Carmen Lanza and Leandro Agostini. However, they weren’t your typical restaurateurs when they decided to open. “We had never made bread before this,” explains Maria Liliana. “When we decided to do this, we said, ‘first we’re going to have to learn how to make bread,’ because we have never, ever made bread.” They took classes in Montreal and learned from bakers in Venezuela to perfect the cachito recipe.
Cachitos opened in the middle of winter in 2012. Introducing a new, international food can be scary. To get the word out, the owners stood in the freezing cold, giving away samples in front of their store. “There was a risk they might not like it,” recalls Maria Liliana. “But as soon as they took that first bite, it was awesome to see the look in their eyes as the taste got to their brain. They loved it. They would walk a few paces and turn back and start buying.”
