Ever so often, we need a bakery to run to – for last minute birthday cakes, early bird birthday cakes, the perfect buns, and all other tea time savoury snacks, including those awesome tea cakes our mothers made famous.
Step aside, home bakers, you know there’s nothing quite like an old-school bakery. Here are our top picks.
They almost never get it wrong, from their cakes, freshly baked bread, madeleines and tarts, to their savoury offerings. That said, L’Opera has come under fire a few times for losing the fresh factor, so we recommend always making your purchase in the first half of the day, or better still, place an order and pick it up, so you can be sure of its quality.
One of the oldest players in the game {established in 1962}, Defence Bakery has many a memory intertwined with it. Defence Bakery has it all, breads, desserts, muffins, cookies, quiches, pizza, kathi rolls, foccacia, hot dogs and hummus. They get major points for their express bread counter.
If you’re feeling lazy, you can order yourself some baked goodness and they’ll have it delivered straight to your doorstep. Check out their website here.
Another staple Delhi bakery, Angels in my Kitchen has been spreading its wings to different Delhi neighborhoods, but that doesn’t really matter, since they allow you to shop online.
They also do it all, sweet to savory, and everything in between, including a catering division. Also, they’re one of the few bakeries that allow for you to dine-in comfortably.
Big favorite with our crew, especially their sour dough bread, and festival themed cupcakes. We like that they take the initiative. Since they are a foreign import, they do a lot of novel baking concepts {well, relatively novel}, including breads {all available in healthy options as well} bagels {sesame, white and brown, garlic and onion, multigrain, cinnamon raisin and cheddar cheese bagels} and breakfast goodies {sticky bun pan, carrot bran muffin and apple turnover}.
They’re also happy to do themed cakes on request.
New to Nirvana Courtyard, Legally Sinful specialises in old-timey cakes like a hearty carrot cake or the wonderfully simple pineapple pastry. We also loved their chocolate doughnuts that would pair well with a cup of coffee.
If you’re looking for something special for a birthday or an anniversary, they’re happy to design fondant cakes as well.
Unassuming in its facade, Pudding and Pie actually belts out some solid stuff. And the best part about them is that you can order everything online, including their bread basket! Their Arabian Honey cake, Chocolate Chip Brownie cake and the Devil’s Chocolate Pudding are all worth ordering home.
We’d stay away from the Red Velvet, but then again, to each their own.
We remember them fondly as Hot Breads, when that tong meant unlimited donuts, sausage in a bun, croissants and a mean pack of miniature dinner rolls. The name might have changed, but don’t underestimate the power of those tongs.
Bread and More has only upped their game, retailing a wide variety of dinner rolls, soup sticks, savoury goods, and that good ol’ chocolate frosted donut, the worthy successor of the Chocolate Whoopie Pie.
PS: They also have a special catering division.
Okay, they’ve really upped the ante over the last few years, and for that we’re tipping our hats. Head to Maxims for well priced desserts and very ornate cakes. They do designer cakes on request in case all the flounce don’t cut it.
PS: We’ve been loyalists of their footlong for years and nothing can ever replace that.
Even though they’ve steadily declined when it comes to quality, they seem to have a permanent place in the hearts of the city’s folk. Perhaps because they pioneered the red velvet movement in the city. We, however, love their Victorian Sponge.
We owe a special mention to their breakfast menu, comprising freshly baked croissants, eggs, pancakes and the choice of buying freshly baked oatmeal, wheat germ, daliya, ragi, garlic and multi-grain bread, available at Elma’s.
We have to give them points for consistency, not just of their velvety Mango Cheesecake but also in terms of performance – rarely have we heard of a soul who wasn’t pleased after a visit to the aptly named Binge.
We love the eggless Oreo cake, the dry Apple Upside Down, the Banana Walnut as well as the savouries like their ready dinner rolls, soup sticks and pizza bases.
Although not an official bakery with a shopfront, SodaBottleOpenerWala in Cyber Hub does bakery items from 11am until stocks last every day. We love it for easy access to Shrewsbury Biscuits, without having to plead with our Pune pals, as well as Ginger Biscuits, English Pound Cake and the famous Parsi wedding special Lagan Nu Custard.
There’s also Apple Pie {with custard, of course}, Toblerone Mousse and 5-Star Brownie!
The Kahlua Mousse cake from Whipped is the stuff of birthday legends, but this bakery isn’t a one-trick pony. They do cheesecakes supremely well, so get yourself a slice of their blueberry variant. If you’re loyal to chocolate, however, we recommend their Mud Pie.
Drop by Whipped {they’re in Defence Colony and GK-II}, to indulge your sweet tooth.
If there ever were a happy place, it would probably look like this. We’ve always associated our trips to The Oberoi Delhi’s basement with good times and coffees catch-ups that are exactly the way they should be- with savouries like the herbed Sundried Tomato Tart, an artisanal cheese or two, macaroons that are a thing of beauty and a bagful of fresh breads to take home.
The Oberoi, Gurgaon keeps the legacy going on this side of NH8.
Big Chill can do no wrong and the Cakery is proof. This tiny bakery in Khan Market is always packed with dessert enthusiasts and it’s not hard to see why. Their display cases are lined with cheesecakes, eclairs, brownies, cakes and cookies, and it looks exactly like our happy place.
We’re partial to their ginormous Chocolate Fudge cake with buttercream frosting and the Iced Lemon cookies.
Although well known for their shammi kebabs, Wenger’s is one of Delhi’s first and premier bakeries {established in 1926}, and not only because it’s in CP. They do it all, from pastries, cakes, novelty dessert, pizzas, bread, pudding, quiches, confectionary {get the stick-jaws}, to chocolate, eggless cakes and mousses.
One of the few bakeries that still preserve its old-school flavors, they also have a deli, allowing you to enjoy all the sweet and savory {including waffles}, from the comfort of their in-dining facilities. Check out their health bar, all you calorie counters {featuring granola bars, french nougat bars etc}, but if it’s will power you’re trying to exercise, best not to experiment at Wenger’s.
Comments