Kayani Bakery

Kayani Bakery - East Street (Camp), Pune

Kayani Bakery is a landmark in Pune. Its a bakery started in the 50s by a family emigrated from Iran. They make select products, in select quantities (and so the products are routinely sold out long before the customers stop asking about them), are closed during the afternoon and are also closed on Sundays. On top of it buying something at Kayani is not one of the pleasanter experiences in life. [Prime culprits - crowd, customer service]. So I must say the Iranian owners have completely adjusted into the Puneri style of shopkeeping. [why make an attempt at improving customer service when the food we prepare is so good that the customers line up outside our door even before we open for the day?]

Everything apart, Kayani consistently offers baked goods of outstanding quality and taste. They offer delectable Shrewsbury, Nankhatai, Cheese papdi, Ginger biscuits, Butter biscuits, Wine biscuits, Mawa cake, Plain cake, Sponge cake, Choco-Walnut cake and a whole range of breads. The best way to eat the famous Shrewsbury is to heat them up a bit and just dampen them with a sprinkling milk and take large bites, savoring the taste, texture and smell. The cocolate-walnut cake is pretty good too .. with ample pieces of walnut .. I love dunking it in a cup of strong coffee.

Customers queue outside (before they open for the day) to get the fresh warm batch of Shrewsbury in the morning. The rest of the day witnesses complete chaos in Kayani .. with the hassled workers taking orders from a crowd of customers bordering on rowdiness. You have to jostle forward, making good use of your elbows, grab the attention of the dour Kayani employees - it helps if you are a strikingly beautiful lady, filthy rich (and looking it) or the Shah of Iran. Then - know your order .. if you hesitate they will move on to someone else who knows what they want. While they swiftly pack and box your order .. have the money ready .. pay and move out much to the consternation of others who think they were there before you and should have been taken care of first.

Enjoy.
Sigh. Now I feel like having a Shrewsbury.

Food: ***** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007