By Katie McDonald for The Guam Guide
If you're looking for next-level desserts made from scratched and packed with flavor, Gourmet Guam delivers. Their variety of sweets are perfect for celebrating the next birthday, fiesta, gathering or if you're just picking up a treat for yourself. Every item is freshly made by hand tastes as good as it look!
It's no surprise they swept the Pika's Choice Awards dessert categories in both 2023 and 2024, earning their place as one of Guam's most beloved local bakeries.
Read on to learn how it all started and which menu items we can't stop talking about.
Baking Happiness
Rena and Joe Diego have owned Gourmet Guam since 2015, and they proudly boast the island's biggest variety of cakes, cream puffs, and tarts. With the motto "baking happiness" and a mission to spread Chamorro hospitality, you can truly taste the love in every bite of their handmade and homemade desserts.
Their confections stand out because they use only the freshest locally sourced ingredients, and because every dollop, scoop, and swirl of every item in the bakery case is made entirely by hand.
Delicious Beginnings
Rena, like so many of us, started with cupcake box mixes. She and Joe have five children in their blended family, and with three girls back-to-back, Rena found herself in the kitchen prepping treats for countless school events. She began challenging herself to bake from scratch and served them to family and friends at BBQs.
Rena's baking ambitions grew along with the kitchen and she continued to learn and grow from the feedback she received. Joe says Rena is the "heart and soul of the business," and her years of practice gave her the confidence to run such a successful bakery.
How the Magic Happens
Since opening in 2015, the bakery has grown to a team of about 20 staff. Together, they produce hundreds to thousands of handcrafted baked goods every day by working in teams. Each staff member specializes in a skill and they work around the clock to make sure everything is freshly prepared.
Even with over 120 items on the menu, you'll never find a frozen dessert here. Rena credits the quality and consistency to her team's dedication and willingness to keep experimenting with new flavors. Out of a staff of 21, not a single person has formal culinary training, but Rena and Joe are always happy to train and support anyone with passion and a willingness to learn.
Must-Try Menu Items
We sampled over 20 items during our visit (yes, really), and every bite was a testament to the love and labor that went into each of them.
Here are our favorites:
Strawberry Shortcake: Light, fluffy with a frosting that added the perfect amount of sweetness to each bite. It's a top seller. Try it with the Tropical Delight and Chocolate Chiffon.
Red Velvet Oreo Cake: A crowd favorite, perfect for your next fiesta or birthday party. The oreos add more dimension and texture to the already popular flavor.
New York-style Cheesecake: Rena noticed most other bakeries offer French or Japanese style cheesecakes, so she wanted to try an American style. If you've grown up with NY cheesecake, this is a delicious taste of home you may not find anywhere else on island.
Famous Cream Puffs
Boston Cream Puff: Perfect balance of chocolate, cream, and pastry. It's got all the decadent flavors of a Boston cream pie.
Biscoff Cream Puff: A cozy taste of fall.
Churro Cream Puff: Perfect for cinnamon lovers.
Cookies That Stay Soft for Days
The last standout for us — chocolate chip cookies and gingerbread cookies. Even after a couple of days of sitting on the counter, they stayed soft and oh-so flavorful! The chocolate chip cookie is classic and nostalgic. The gingerbread cookie is an indulgent taste of the holidays. If you don't usually like gingerbread, this one might convert you. (We went back for seconds.)
Visit Gourmet Guam
Location: 251 Chalan San Antonio, Tamuning (near Cost-U-Less)
Hours: Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Instagram: @gourmetguam
