About Helena Avenue Bakery

Helena Avenue Bakery is a homestyle artisan bakery and kitchen offering rustic, organic breads, handmade seasonal pastries, scratch made breakfast fare, gourmet sandwiches on freshly baked bread and seasonal salads. The take-out menu is ideal for dining in or taking away to enjoy at home, nearby wine tasting rooms, the beach or picnics around town. Helena Avenue Bakery shares a space with the Santa Barbara Wine Collective so you can grab a bottle of your favorite local wine for a perfect picnic.

Jason Paluska, Executive Chef

Originally from Tomball, Texas, Jason Paluska began his cooking career in San Francisco under chefs Mitch and Steve Rosenthal of Town Hall, Salt House and Anchor & Hope in 2006. Jason went on to became a sous chef at Michael Mina’s RN74 in San Francisco. For four years he worked under renowned chef Jason Berthold, formerly of the French Laundry & Per Se. In 2013 he left the Bay area and moved to Santa Barbara as the opening executive chef of The Lark restaurant. Most recently Jason and his team at the Lark received the Michelin Plate award in June of 2019.

Emilie Sandven, General Manager

Emilie Sandven is a highly skilled and passionate pastry chef with a strong foundation in classical techniques. With over 8 years of experience in the industry, Emilie has held a variety of roles in some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Los Angeles and Orange County. In her most recent position as Executive Sous Chef at Colossus Bread & Pastry, Emilie successfully oversaw and coordinated the production of bread, viennoiserie, pastries, and ready-to-eat items for the bakery, farmers market outlets, and wholesale accounts. Emilie is known for her ability to create nostalgically flavored foods that combine flawless craftsmanship with local, seasonal ingredients. In addition to her culinary skills, Emilie has excellent customer service skills and is highly adaptable and organized in fast-paced, upscale settings. She holds an Associate of Arts degree and a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College.

Accolades & Awards

High praise from The Hollywood Reporter, Zagat.com, and the SoCal Restaurant Show.

For more information, visit helenaavenuebakery.com

131 Anacapa St., Ste. C, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | 805-880-3383
Daily 7am to 2:30pm

Follow Helena Avenue Bakery | @helenaavenuebakery