The best baguette:
Patisserie de Paris
The best baguette you can get. It’s only been open since July but those who frequent The Bryanston Organic market will know all about Paul’s amazing breads.
He studied in France and brought his knowledge and his passion back to the big smoke and has been making the best baguette in town ever since.
They’re all about hand made and health conscious: no additives, no preservatives, no commercial yeasts, utilising the sourdough method of breadmaking, a 72 hour rising process and a whole lot of love. And naturally, all croissants and pastries are made with butter. You have to try the rye and walnut breads too.
The best ciabatta
Fournos, Dunkeld
Everyone knows Fournos. The fact that they produce bread without the assistance of any chemicals, stabilizers and anticaking agents and rely on the old artisanal breadmaking techniques makes them outshine the opposition.
Their breads are real, rustic, fresh, crispy and flavourful. They also use the sourdough method on many of the breads which creates a better quality crumb and flavour. Ciabattas are amazing, my personal favourite being the olive ciabatta, but try the seed loaf and the Portuguese bread – they’re delish.
P.S they just launched a blueberry croissant, count yourself lucky if you can get your hands on one.
The best cupcakes
They’re renowned for their half and half cupcakes; the infamous red velvet and vanilla stealing the show, as well as my heart: perfectly soft and moist with delightfully rich and decadent icings.
It’s a quaint little spot with the entrance wall stacked to the ceiling with freshly made cupcakes prettily packaged and flying out the door. They’re also big into cronuts (a combination of a croissant and a doughnut) the custard being the most delish in my books.
It’s trendy and fab, the perfect spot for a slice of indulgent gateau or 10
The best muffins
The best muffins in town: Blueberry, cappuccino, banana, carrot and nut…they have them all. They are moist on the inside with a delightful crust and packed full of goodness.
Not to mention all-butter croissants, cupcakes and home made pies – all of their recipes are based on traditional French baking techniques – beautiful to behold, but even better to eat. And yes they make the famous ‘cronuts’ too.
It’s a homely and inviting bakery, have a chat to John the owner, he genuinely wants to get to know you.
The best croissant
Junipas
Julian Platt explains the art of making a great croissant can be summed up into two words: sacrifice and patience. Their outcome is a buttery, crusty pillow with a natural sweetness. From start to finish – it’s a 72 hour process. Their artisan breads are extremely popular: small batches, crafted by hand, slow fermentation with a wicked crust. There is also the original chocolate chip cookie that started the business 15 years ago, and yes they also do cronuts: lemon meringue or caramel and hazelnut praline are the way to go.
The best doughnut
They make hand-piped French doughnuts to die for: almost like a piped choux circle, they’re dusted with sugary goodness and as light as a feather.
Look out for the most gorgeous raspberry meringues you’ve ever seen and petit fours that are out of this world. I also have to mention their most delicious all-butter croissants that will melt in your mouth, the crisp golden shell gives way to soft and sultry layers of buttery goodness and before you know it it’s all gone and you’re wondering if ordering another will be considered greedy. I adore this patisserie.
The best pies
De Backery
They’ve been around for over 50 years and for over 50 years people have travelled for miles for their famous beef sausage rolls and pies: chicken and mushroom, steak, Cornish, curry, vegeterian, prawn, cheese and ham, pepper Steak…to name but a few.
It’s a traditionally Dutch-style bakery offering traditional Dutch and speculaas biscuits, Dutch meat croquettes and cheese pig ears.
All their products are made on the premises and the same recipes they used when they started are used today.
The best cakes
It looks like a dolls house with walls lined with pink pin stripe, it’s all about the detail here and you can feel it dusting the air like icing sugar.
Their cake repertoire includes: Lime velvet, red velvet, Marshmallow nunu, white chocolate mousse and a flourless orange and almond…is your mouth watering yet? If not, how about salted caramel, lavender and pistachio macaroons to tickle your fancy? It’s pretty, it’s pink and well worth the visit.
The best for ‘something a little different’
Hanover Bakery
You have to try the chocolate log and caramel and pecan nut loaf, the naan bread is sensational and so are the koeksisters.
It’s become an institution in Mayfair, so much so that you need to be prepared to face the masses on weekends so make sure you have a baguette on hand should a duel ensue.
They also do a great array of convenience foods such as burgers, mini-pizzas and stuffed bread rolls.
Follow Kate Liquorish on Twitter @undomestikated.
Want to get rid of that mixer? Sell it on Gumtree.