Rita “the Sweetmaker”, a renowned pastry chef from La Laguna, was known for her exquisite confections made in her kitchen located on Juan de Vera Street, near the Briones alleyway. Behind her home, looking out over the expansive grounds of the Hotel Battenberg, she operated a workshop that produced some of the most celebrated pastries in Tenerife during the early 20th century until the Spanish Civil War.
Much of Rita’s production went to the Café Central, a popular venue in La Laguna. The café was famous for its array of sweets served alongside coffee, with Rita’s craftsmanship at the heart of its appeal. Visitors came not only for her renowned coffee with milk but also to enjoy her delicacies, creating a vibrant social atmosphere where people gathered to chat, meet friends, and engage in lively discussions.
The bustling Café Central, as it appeared in the late 1920s, attracted customers from across Tenerife and beyond. Among them was a young Melchor Llanos, who trained in Rita’s workshop. His time there was pivotal, as he learned essential skills that would ultimately establish him as a distinguished pastry chef in his own right.
