Next Stop, Your House Front Door.
Natalie Blok rings the house doorbell smiling. The brightness of her eyes says it all, the protective mask, an accessory required in these times, covers part of her expression. She holds a cooler, which for those who already know her, is a chest loaded with the most appetizing treasures you can have at home.
From the other side, crossing the small garden a lady wearing a mask that matches her weekend dress, smiles back with her eyes, while raising her hands saying happily:
-Spinach with cheese?
-20 empanadas as you ordered! – Natalie answers,
-And Carimañolas?
-20 Spicy and 20 without it, ready to enjoy!
This time it is Nathalie’s mother, Marilu Blok, who follows her closely carrying a larger load saying: “Famous meat Carimañolas with a stew, are gaining fame by the day throughout the city”.
One more delivery by Bloks Bakery that morning; the emerging business of a family that had to change course, like many others in this difficult time with the Pandemic.
A New Destination
Before surprising friends and acquaintances with her delicious creations, Natalie and her mother Marilu Blok, were working at Viajes Blok, the family’s travel agency that has been in business for 72 years. Founded by her great-grandfather Pieter Blok. Together with her husband Roberto Blok, have continued the tradition that has earned them the choice of many people. The attention and charisma of a family that has fulfilled the dreams of thousands of travelers and contributed to different commercial businesses in many ways.
But during 2020, the preventive measures to try to combat SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic silenced all airports. Travel was reduced to a minimum, hitting hard on businesses like Viajes Blok.
This is not the first business crisis the family faces. In 1989, following the United States invasion of Panama: Operation “Just Cause”, the agency’s services were suspended. That gap, instead of paralyzing Marilu, opened the way for her to bring back the family talents.
Marilu is Peruvian by birth, as her mother, Mrs. Julia Delia de Rivas, highly recognized for her culinary art.
With inherited notions and her fighting spirit, Marilu opened a small business that she called “Delicias Teresita” (the name of her first daughter).
Delicias Teresita would stand out from the rest by its ceviche baskets with curious shapes and empanadas of a very particular and delicious daugh, among other delicacies.
The Travel Agency reopened but Marilu de Blok was still enthusiastic about her new entrepreneurship, 4 years had passed and she was going through a very delicate pregnancy that force her to resign.
Coming Back with a Lot of Cheese.
Natalie was born when that venture of her mother ended and now, it is her who started encouraging to restart. Today she is 28 years old, graduated from Business Administration and being a key person in the Travel Agency, she suggested to her family to bring back the old recipes.
In the midst of economic uncertainty, Natalie, her mother and her godmother Carmen Zuñiga, who also cared for her since she was born, joined forces. They optimized Grandma Julia’s grinding machine and with the magic of hands and love, the first empanadas took shape. The kitchen was flooded with the very familiar and longed for aroma of a stew. And a short menu that concentrates all its value on quality, was presented under the name of its new home: Bloks Bakery.
Their first clients were Rosario de Marilu group mates then, as a heard prayer, friends and acquaintances, joined in with enthusiasm to order more deliveries.
Empanadas are small, telling clients not to settle for just one! Its fillings have a delicious mixture of local cheese and imported spinach, plain cheese, chicken or meat, with or without spices. But if you like spicy, you will surrender to its sweet punishment. Finding it seductive and inseparable within these little delights.
Other requested protagonists are meat carimañolas. As Doña Marilu says, “stuffed from end to end.” Well, all the space is taken up by the compacted stew within a soft mass of selected yuccas, to give rise to some smooth and chubby carimañolas. And finally, the tequeños, a cheese expression that we Panamanians have adopted and is part of the Blok Bakery menu.
These delicacies are delivered frozen, ready to heat them on a stove, frying pan or “air fryer”, awakening all their magic!
Since we get to spend now more time with our family, these snacks reinforce our sense of being home. The homemade feeling brings an undeniable warmth and happiness to each moment share. The perfect garnish for those who want to have the complicity of a craving after meals, or for an indoor celebration.
The Blok family has for the moment, changed direction. The flights they offer are short but very rewarding! It’s time to savor First Class at home, with the affection and flavor of Blok Bakery.
For orders: Nicole Blok. Cel. 6090-6516. @bloksbakery. Minimum 10 units from $4.00.