Berit Meyer traded San Francisco Bay for Humboldt Bay in 1978 to attend Humboldt State University. By 1981, she had her wildlife management diploma in one hand and a ticket to Alaska in the other. “I literally had one toe out the door,” she recalls. Humboldt had other plans. Berit received a graduation present from her roommate’s father: a tasty tome of gourmet chocolate recipes. Of course, one isn’t tempted into a major life change simply over a gifted book. But when your friend then says they have this wonderful opportunity to open a café where you can try out those recipes? Lucky for Ramone’s Bakery and Café regulars (sorry, Alaska), Meyer never stood a chance.
Meyer joined forces with her friends Barb (then Berkemeyer) Jewell and Tom Pagano to open Ramone’s Opera Alley Café. Proving their Humboldt adoption was complete, they named their venture not after themselves but for a well-known, hat-wearing local character. Berit worked her way through the recipes in that chocolate cookbook and, in 1986, into the Old Town Bakery around the corner. The bakers were on a roll, adding Union Town Arcata in 1988, their retail and main production facility on Harrison Avenue in 1990, the counter at Pierson’s Building Center in 1998, the McKinleyville location in 1999, and the Bistro Café in 2011. (The Union Town Arcata spot closed for the move into Wildberries Marketplace in 1994.) Eventually, the two other Ramone’s founders had moved on to reach their own delectable goals. First, Tom Pagona brought his own saucy dreams to life with Tomaso’s Specialty Foods. Then Jewell joined her husband Mike to craft local spirits at the eponymous Jewell Distillery in Blue Lake.
Along the way to building the baking empire that contributes to Humboldt’s patisserie contentment, Meyer met fellow Bay Area native Brian Ferguson in a most Humboldt way. Although both orbited each other in the local bakery scene, they did not formally meet until 1989. A meet-cute potluck like no other. “We are amazed that we found each other in Humboldt County,” she says. “We both moved here in 1978 but did not meet for 10 years.” The connection was instant and obviously meant to be. Within a year they were married and happily working together. They soon welcomed two children, Dana and Erin, raising their daughters and their dough side by side.
You don’t need to know the difference between a ganache (a filling) and a gateau (a cake) because Meyer and Ferguson do. The happily married couple works together to bring a smile to many a local bride. Have you seen their lovely wedding cakes? You can order a yummy wedding cake sampler to try them out. Custom, gluten-free and vegan options make sure no bride is left wanting. Or give in to one of the many cakes and tarts that tempt you whenever you are near a Ramone’s. The little cheesecake with fresh flowers is especially charming.
Meyer and Ferguson do more than take care of your flaky pastry needs. “We’ve evolved the Harrison location into a bistro café,” says Meyer. (Check ramonesbakery.com to drool over the seasonal dinner menu.) “Brian is passionate about a really nice wine list. The bistro has a small but well thought out wine list. The kind where he would say, ‘Boy if I went to another town and I saw this wine list, I would stay here for three nights just to try them.’ He loves to list wines from around the world that people may not be aware of.”
Meyer is proud that Ramone’s supports the community in the way it knows best. “We get requests for donations — food, gift cards, baskets — so we get to spread ourselves widely to help more people,” she says. “It’s awesome to get breakfast pastries requests for crews working on stream restoration! We love to give back this way. We can support the arts by donating lunches for artists during summer events and support environmental stewardship feeding McKay Forest trail workers.” You can find Ramone’s representing at your favorite local event. “We do quite a few ‘Tastes,’ donating s amples of our fare. There’s Dine by the Sea and McKinleyville’s Corks and Kegs, too. Often these are fundraising events where we make samples for 400 to 600 people,” she notes. All this on top of catering family milestones and company parties. Whew!
Running such a large operation takes a lot of effort. The many locations provide jobs to 120-130 people. “We employ part-time (workers) and students. We have a solid staff that does not change — the chefs, bakers, ovens. We run 24 hours a day,” says Meyer.
Runners sport the Ramone’s Bakery and Cafe’s logo for hundreds of kilometers in local marathons. Ramone’s sponsors Humboldt Bay Fire Department dog walks, too. Meyer and Ferguson are both avid runners themselves. It pays to keep fit when you have access to around the clock treats, at work and at home.
“I think the item I make for myself most often is a galette. It’s a freeform, rustic, open-faced pie. You can put any kind of fruits in, but apple is usually what we always have on hand. It’s delicious warm with some ice cream,” says Meyer. And maybe some Ramone’s fresh roasted coffee.
Although she still has one foot in the bakery, she has the other in the stirrup. Lately, Meyer says, “I’ve been stepping back from day-to-day operations, riding the trails.” A veteran of endurance rides, she is busy training Buck and Tio, two young geldings usually found kicking up their heels in her pasture.
Berit Meyer
My Humboldt life “… is community. … People coming together. Feeling at home.”
As Meyer and Ferguson begin to step back, their daughters are planning to return to Humboldt later this year after life in Los Angeles. “Dana said, ‘I have baking in my blood, so I might as well come back to Humboldt and learn about the business.’ Try it on and see if it fits for her. Erin is returning, too! We talked business at the dinner table every night so they know how all-encompassing it will be,” Meyer says. A genetic propensity for culinary alchemy must be acknowledged! Especially if it means you get access to stellar goodies like the Chocolate Decadence torte.
When asked to finish the sentence “My Humboldt life is,” the enthusiastic Meyer grew thoughtful. “My Humboldt life is community. It’s easy to say that, but one thing we really love about the café is that it’s a community hub. We love it when people get up from their table and talk to others they know,” she says. “Everyone is comfortable, and meeting people they might not have otherwise. People coming together. Feeling at home.” The warmth of home is in her voice. Humboldt owes a lot to the roomie’s dad who provided inspiration at exactly the right moment. “I started in wildlife but loved baking. I did not realize that I would love talking with customers. I did not grow up talking with people, but talking over a pastry, or reminiscing with a customer about what they used to get and can I recreate it? I get a lot of satisfaction out of that part of my job,” she continues. You will get satisfaction, too, from the first bite of huckleberry pie … though the lemon meringue looks scrumptious. Why choose? The perks of being an adult means you can eat one now and take the other home for later.
Ramone’s Bakery and Café
ramonesbakery.com
Harrison Bistro Café
2297 Harrison Ave., Eureka, (707) 442-1336
Wildberries Marketplace
747 13th St., Arcata, (707) 826-1088
Old Town Eureka
209 E St., Eureka, (707) 445-2923
McKinleyville Shopping Center
1555 City Center Road, McKinleyville, (707) 839-3383
Pierson’s Building Center
4100 Broadway, Eureka, (707) 476-0401
This article appears in My Humboldt Life January 2026.