Guest speaker Bent Olsen will speak on Danish Bakeries in Solvang. Learn how six Danish bakeries have been able to thrive in Solvang, a small village of just 6,000 residents with a unique history. Peer into the rich culture and passed down techniques of Danish baking. Get a taste for yourself and sample the Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery signature pastry. Fresh brewed coffee will be provided, courtesy of El Rancho Marketplace.

Bent Olsen was born and raised in his family’s bakery on the Danish island of Aero (Ærø), where his grandfather and father ran the establishment founded in 1890 in Aeroskobing (Ærøskøbing). After completing his apprenticeship with his father and grandfather, and furthering his education in baking and confectionary arts in Sweden, he immigrated to the United States in 1965. Captivated by the opportunities in Solvang, California, he stayed and worked at a bakery there until 1970, when he purchased what is now Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery. Over the past 55 years, Bent has built the bakery into an award-winning institution and a renowned destination for both residents and tourists alike. Now, with his son Christian and grandchildren actively involved in the business, Bent continues to train the next generation, ensuring that his family’s baking legacy will endure in the heart of Solvang.

Website: olsensdanishvillagebakery.com