One of these days, rise before Mumbai rubs its eyes awake, and take a walk around the town. Let the aroma of freshly baking bread and buns serve as your GPS, as you navigate the city’s bakery map. Watch as the most humble ingredients are transformed into pure culinary joy — think patties, puffs, khari (flaky pastry) puffs and the likes.

As for which bakeries to head to, here are a few chef picks.

1. Maska Bakery

The menu at Maska Bakery revives both imaginary and culinary palates. Every item is precious, but F&B writer Nikhil Merchant calls the ‘Kejriwal Babka’ the poster child of the menu. “It’s a stroke of genius. It folds Mumbai’s iconic (yet somewhat lesser-known) ‘Eggs Kejriwal’ into a beautifully layered loaf.”

The dish’s flavours are brazen, Nikhil’s description of it proves, “The bread is infused with the quintessential chutney found at Mumbai’s street vendors, made with Bhavnagari chillies, a smattering of cheese, and layers of butter meticulously folded into the dough before being baked to a golden brown. Lightly toasted and topped with a fried egg, it’s a straight ticket to nostalgic heaven.”

2. City Bakery

According to reports, the roll call of guests at this pre-Independence bakery includes distinguished names like Asha Bhosle and Anil Ambani. What started its life as a humble shack in 1945 pushed the envelope with its shezwan rolls and walnut brownies, striking a chord with the city.

The flour mill at City Bakery begins churning as early as 4 am, and if you want to catch the pao (bread) hot and fresh, ensure you’re early.

Sanket Shekhar Joshi,........

© The Better India