San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.comLet them eat baklava

Let them eat baklava

Working alongside his wife in their Santee kitchen, Jeff Ugur is a man on a mission.

"Our mission is actually to introduce baklava into American mainstream baking," Jeff said.

Using old family recipes and fresh ingredients, this wholesale baker has tweaked an old world recipe to please an American palate.

"We make the rolled baklava, which is very popular in American coffee houses, the triangle baklava, which typically is in kabob and ethnic restaurants," Ugur said.

To Americanize this European-Middle Eastern delicacy is Jeff's quest, which is why he is known as the "Baklava King."

"We use only American nuts and American ingredients, we make our own syrup right here. We do not use any trans fats in our baklava. It's a very gourmet product," Jeff said.

It's delivered right out of the oven.

"All of our baklava is made after we receive orders," Jeff said.

There are lethally delicious combinations like cinnamon walnut or pistachio birds nests. The Baklava King wholesales his made-from-scratch products to well-known San Diego bakeries and coffee houses like the French Gourmet, the Living Room and DZ Akins.

Sweets aren't the only fresh-baked items coming out of this kitchen. Jeff also makes a healthy yet filling spinach cheese pie, wafer-thin sheets of dough stuffed with fresh spinach and feta cheese.

"Anyone can do it. It just takes a little time and practice," Jeff said.

In his Santee realm, this King has found an Anglo niche for Euro treats.

"It is the American dream come true for me and my wife," he said.

My lord and league, thou hath bequeathed a better baklava.

Baklava King
9932 Prospect Avenue, Suite 136
Santee, CA 92071
(619) 258-KING