Flour Power
  Santa Cruz Weekly - Sept. 16, 2009

"ED HOFFMAN'S baking career began at the Old Theatre Café under the tutelage of Bavarian pastry maestro Lorenz Rothbucher. A native of the Los Angeles area, Hoffman had just graduated from UCSC and called working as a baker "a romantic idea." In time, Hoffman and his wife, June, a fellow UCSC graduate, moved up to Seattle, where for 16 years they created a successful pastry and wedding cake business. But Santa Cruz beckoned again, and in 2001 the Hoffmans opened their restaurant and pastry shop on Pacific Avenue, expertly aided by their UCSC-grad son and Culinary Institute of America-trained daughter...." Read Full Review

A Better Breakfast
  MetroActive - Sept. 2, 2009 Issue

"POTATOES at breakfast are usually gratuitous, a starchy way of filling up the plate, a carbo-charged afterthought. The potatoes at Hoffman's are worth eating right down to the last bite. We discovered this happy fact, and more, last week at a post-workout breakfast that left us full and satisfied..." Read Full Review

Hoffman's Bakery Satisfies All Cravings
  Good Times - Nov. 26, 2008

"From plump vinyl seat cushions rise head-high teal and gold upholstered booth backs, distinguishing the dining area from retail bakery cases at Hoffman's Bistro and Patisserie. Traditional rectangular chocolate croissants joined macaroons and statuesque pumpkin cheesecakes. Owner Ed Hoffman is a wedding cake master, creating award-winning cakes for more than 20 years..." Read Full Review

Oktoberfestive
  MetroActive - Oct. 18, 2006 Issue

"Any occasion that provides an excuse for feasting and beer drinking is fine by me, so when a holiday happens to be named after my birthday month, I'm in even more of a celebratory mood. With its specialization in traditional German fare (plus a few California-bent additions like seafood, pastas and salads), Hoffman's felt like a fitting destination for an authentic Oktoberfest and is much closer than the winding car ride up to the Tyrolean Inn. Their Oktoberfest special featured hearty offerings such as goulash or sausages, with all of the necessary accoutrements of potato-laced sides and cabbage, plus a choice of three desserts, all included in the affordable set price of $14.50..." Read Full Review

Hearty fare in downtown Santa Cruz
  Mercury News - Sunday, July 17, 2005

"Hoffman's Bakery Cafe has image issues. Bakery cafe sounds like scones and coffee, which Hoffman's has mastered, but the menu spans the globe from huevos rancheros to hamburgers, tofu saute to sauerbraten. From the front door on downtown Santa Cruz's eclectic Pacific Avenue, you mostly see the bakery side of the business. But Hoffman's is open for three meals a day and has live jazz every night..." Read Full Review

Beyond the Bakery: Hoffman's steps up with a menu of its own
  MetroActive - Nov. 5, 2003 Issue

"Across from all the construction on the north end of Pacific Avenue, next to the empty building that used to house Cat n' Canary, Hoffman's Bakery Cafe is easy to overlook. Walking past at dinnertime, you might notice people eating and chatting outside what seems to be an unassuming bakery. You might be intrigued by the smell of fresh salmon or fragrant risotto, or curious about the sound of live jazz on a Friday or Saturday night..." Read Full Review