If you’re wandering through the Carmel or Del Monte Farmers Markets and see a crowd hovering over what looks like a jewelry display, you’ve probably found Qouign (pronounced “queen.”)

The force behind the brand is Santana Rodriguez, a Soledad native and resilient "pastry queen" who sharpened her skills in legendary kitchens like Bernardus Lodge and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon before striking out on her own.

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