All caked up: NCR's patisseries

“Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker man / bake me a cake as fast as you can.” But cakes aren’t the only thing you’re in for, if you do decide to visit one of Delhi’s “baker men”. From gooey pastries and cakes of every kind to flaky patties and other delectable shorteats, the tantalizing shelves at the well-known patisseries in the city will have the sconce-and-sandwich eating Londoner casting a disapproving glance at her evening tea-spread.

While every neighbourhood in town worth its appetite boasts of at least a small bakery selling creamy pastries and greasy fingerfoods, there are some that will really wow your nose as well as your tastebuds. You can tell the very moment you’ve reached Wenger’s. For one, your nose gets hyper distracted by wafting aromas and your eyes get glued to hordes of hungry people swarming around for baked delights. Wenger’s is, without a doubt, Delhi’s most famous bakery. On the right are shelves neatly lined with cakes and confectioneries of every order, on the left are scores of mouth-watering shorteats—sandwiches, mutton patties, shaami kebabs and more—that this shop is so famous for. Order a day in advance for a fabulous cake if you have a birthday party coming up at home. To make your window-shopping in CP extra special, lace it with goodies from Wenger’s.

The delicious smells emanating from Angels in My Kitchen are not deceptive, as the food is as good as the aroma. If luscious chocolate truffle cake is your present craving, walk into this outlet and satiate it pronto. Other must-munches include warm butter and chocolate croissants, Danish pastries, and multigrain and garlic loaves. But, brownies are what Angels is really famous for. Done just right, these are crispy outside and chewy inside. Speaking of brownies, Defence Bakery, Top Breads and Grandma’s Kitchen at Eatopia can be certainly counted upon.

We must tell you that after the chocolate cake and all its variations, the Blackforest pastry is what whets the Delhi belly and nobody rustles it up any better than Sidewalk. Whether on-the-go or a sit-down bite, The Oberoi hotel’s Gourmet Shoppe is worth a visit for lovely multigrain breads and apple mousse! And perfectly adapting the western concept of bakeries to the taste of sadi Dilli is Ye Olde Bakery. From vegetable and chicken patties to the bitter chocolate pastry and mud pie, everything here is to die for!

Quiches and baguettes from Breads and More also have carved a niche for themselves and so have marzipan toffees from Bon Bon and doughnuts from Bisque.

When it comes to having a dekko at Delhi’s bakeries, you get to have your cake and eat it too!