From the moment you walk up to the adorable storefront on Main Street encased in colorful flowers, to the moment you walk in and smell the aromatic baked goods emanating from the kitchen, to the moment you sit down on the pretty pink chairs to enjoy a green matcha latte made with horchata milk, adorned with dehydrated rose petals and infused with Elderflower and take a bite of a pastry, you feel an overwhelming sense of happiness – a calming feeling rushes over you. After-all, Pastry Lu is known as the “happiness factory.”
When I visited, I was warmly welcomed with a tray of delicious treats: banana bread, chocolate drizzled biscotti, cookies and an iced coffee. I sat and chatted with Luisania (Lu) Moronta and Juan Carlos Valdez, the owners, and as each customer entered, they were greeted with a warm smile. Sitting nearby was a group of women who meet there every week. They were happily chatting and enjoying each other’s company – and the delicious, sweet treats!
Lu and Juan Carlos radiate joy and warmth and together make a power couple and dynamic business partners. Lu explains, Juan Carlos was and continues to be the wind underneath her wings, so to speak. He believed in her ability to start a business before she did. He tells me every treat or pastry she’s ever made was spectacular and he knew others would feel the same. During COVID, Lu – a pastry chef by trade – had lost her job, so she focused her energy on making Tres Leches for her sister’s coffee shop located in Washington Heights in New York City. They were so popular that they were selling 500 Tres Leches a week! It was a silver lining amid COVID. When the opportunity presented itself, Juan Carlos found a vacant store by the train station and together they opened Pastry Lu in April 2021. Lu says, “My husband is always by my side supporting me and ensuring everything runs smoothly.” When the building was sold, they continued to trust in God’s plan and believed that his timing is perfect. And in August 2024, they landed at a new and even bigger location right on Main Street – they were overjoyed.
Lu is from Dominican descent and came to the U.S. when she was 20 years old. She attended the French Culinary Institute in New York City at age 22 and studied Pastry Arts learning to make croissants, Danishes, puff pastries and learned basic French techniques. As a young girl growing up in La Vega, Dominican Republic, she took baking classes and was influenced by her teacher who became her mentor and that is where her passion grew. Growing up she learned how to make the traditional Tres Leches from her mother. The name literally means “three milks” in Spanish, referring to the three types of milk that are then absorbed by a sponge cake. If you haven’t tried one yet, you must because it’s incredible! Lu can adapt the recipe using coconut milk. She has worked as an Executive Pastry Chef at Salted Lime and Uproot and other restaurants.
At Pastry Lu everything is made fresh daily. You will find Tres Leches cups in abundance as well as cakes. Lu says, “Our most popular desserts are the Tres Leches – we have coconut, coconut and passion fruit, guava and cream, chocolate and dulce de leche, among many more flavors (up to 14) that reflect our Latin culture. We even have people coming from far away to buy it, like Philadelphia, Trenton, New York, even have customers from Delaware. It is a blessing all the support we get.” Their loyal customer base continues to keep the business thriving. They also have an assortment of croissants, Danishes, cookies, coconut macaroons, brownies and a wide array of coffees, both hot and cold.
Lu puts a spin on everything. Try her popular Captain Crunch Cookie developed because she loves Captain Crunch cereal. Another highly popular cookie is the Snickers, Coffee and Caramel Cookie, which is a mix of coffee infused into a cookie with bits of Snickers crumbs and a salted caramel topping. Always expect the unexpected at Pastry Lu. Come for lunch. She offers Cuban croissants stuffed with ham, salami, and cheese, or try the American croissants filled with bacon, cream cheese, and chives, or try the Italian Croissant with homemade herbed pesto and mozzarella, which is vegetarian. Mini quiche is made with caramelized onion, mushroom and gruyere, or try the roasted tomato, ricotta and spinach quiche. Save room for dessert!
It’s a family affair at Pastry Lu where Lu and Juan Carlos work as a team to seamlessly create a beautiful space for people to come and enjoy coffee and delicious pastries and other tasty treats. The walls are adorned with the lively and colorful artwork of Juan Carlos’ father, Juan Valdez, paying homage to his legacy of being an artist. They hung each painting with care and have light shining on them to highlight his beautiful artwork – it’s like a well-curated art gallery. Lu’s brother-in-law and his girlfriend also work there.
Fun fact: News 12 New Jersey ranked Pastry Lu #62 Best Bakers in New Jersey. They also featured them in a segment on TV.
As for her future aspirations, they plan to open more stores and are constantly doing recipe development and recipe testing to keep things fresh and interesting. Lu and Juan Carlos will welcome their second child in July.
Go for a coffee or matcha latte and a pastry or savory croissant. Meet up with an old friend to catch up or meet up with a new friend and create lasting, sweet memories. Celebrate a birthday or special occasion because it’s always a party at Pastry Lu!
“Pastry Lu is committed to offering high-quality desserts made from scratch and in-house including pastries, breads, cookies, and cakes. Come visit us, try our selection and pair with a delicious freshly brewed coffee.”
Pastry Chef/Owner: Luisania (Lu) Moronta and Juan Carlos Valdez, Owner
Website: pastrylu.com
Address: 457-B Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840
