Sweet Treats and Times at Patches’ Pastries in Fortuna

Washed with golden light and set against the backdrop of the quaint, historic downtown, fall feels a little more tangible in Fortuna. Apples are being harvested by the bushel, pumpkins peer out from decorated storefronts and something special is brewing on the corner of 10th and Main Streets. 

Open the doors of Patches’ Pastries to find you may have stepped back in time. Colorful stained-glass windows splash the walls with color, and brocade Victorian settees recall a bygone era, when calling on someone to share a cup of tea and the latest gossip was a regular activity. The espresso bar clinks and clatters quietly as steaming mugs are passed across the counter. Friends recount their summer adventures over emptying cups of coffee and crumb-sprinkled plates. From the kitchen wafts a spell of browning sugar and melting butter, drawing patrons in for a closer look at the enchanting array of pastries, cookies, pies and cakes.

These treats, however, did not appear by some supernatural force: They are the culmination of many years of hard work, a dash of trial and tribulation, and, of course, lots of love. Apron-clad and flour dusted, Patch Fraga shares a little about his journey, which began in Humboldt. A student of the Arcata High School culinary program, he was bakery-bound from an early age. After leaving the nest and graduating from the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, he returned to Humboldt County to set up a one-man operation at Northtown Coffee, offering just four kinds of pastries. These were enough to stir up interest in the community, and Fraga expanded operations to a commissary kitchen at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds before finally opening a dedicated storefront in Ferndale. However, Fraga’s vision hadn’t quite been fulfilled. He was still seeking a space that he could truly share with the community, and with its ample but cozy dining room area, the Fortuna location offered just that. The newest iteration of Patches’ Pastries opened its doors in April of 2025 and has already garnered quite the following. 

Rightfully so. Alongside a rotating assortment of cookies, scones, cake, loaves, cheesecake slices, Danishes and cookies available every day, one can also order whole cakes, cupcakes and cookies by the dozen, seasonal tarts and pies, chocolate-covered strawberries, tiramisu, quiches and more. Perennial favorites are the snickerdoodle cheesecake (topped with freshly baked snickerdoodle cookie crumbles, of course), and the brown butter and sea salt chocolate chip cookies, which are both available year-round. 

For fall, the menu nods to one of Fortuna’s favorite harvests, with apple Danishes and caramel apples populating the glass case. Brownies and seasonal macarons are sure to delight both the young and young at heart with favorite autumnal flavors like pumpkin spice. Fraga is excited to introduce savory Danishes with hearty fillings like goat cheese, prosciutto and caramelized onions, complementing a growing menu of hot items like breakfast sandwiches and biscuits and gravy. Mimosas have also made an appearance on the menu, if your morning needs a little extra sparkle. Gluten-free and vegan patrons, do not dismay: There are typically a number of treats in which you can indulge.

For many, the cooler seasons are a time to reconnect with loved ones, an invitation to slow down, take stock and enjoy the fruits of our labor. While pastries may be the apple of Fraga’s eye, they’re not the only thing he cares deeply about. As an openly trans business owner, he has also prioritized creating a safe and fun environment for queer employees, and hopes his Fortuna location will become a space for community members to gather and celebrate. Patches’ Pastries also showcases other locally made goods, with ice cream from Ferndale’s Foggy Bottoms Boys available by the scoop, and a gift section with canned goods and arts and crafts alongside the front counter. 

As we settle into colder mornings and shorter days, we seek ways to experience warmth and connection, and, of course, to have a little fun. So, grab your favorite book, your favorite person, a cup of coffee and a sweet treat (perhaps a maple cinnamon roll?), and savor a little slice of magic at Patches’.

This article appears in Humboldt Insider Winter 2026.