Bread Basket StephY Thai presents a guide on what bakeries in town have to offer. Photo by Fred WissINk. 48 asialife HCMC
CRUMBS Crumbs has been operational for two years now and prides itself on using wheat germ in their already healthy products. Wheat germ is a part of the wheat kernel, which is high in protein and contains lots of essential nutrients required to maintain energy levels and healthy muscles, organs, hair and skin. Wheat germ is also very helpful in preventing the body's aging process as well as heart disease. Crumbs is owned by an Australian Viet Kieu who studied baking bread in Australia and realized that despite the Vietnamese consuming bread on a daily basis, there was a market for bread that was rich in fiber and able to prevent diseases related to digestive system. What separates Crumbs from other bakeries, they claim, is that they don’t use Potassium Bromate, an ingredient banned for use in food products in many countries as it’s considered harmful and alleged to cause cancer. Crumbs' other distinction is that they bake bread sans dairy or any added sugar. There are a variety of breads ranging from 3,000 to 35,000 VND: Champagne roll (5,000 VND), dark rye roll (4,000 VND), wheat baguette (12,000 VND), many kinds of cheese rolls and various loaves like cheese and olive roll (15,000 VND), cheese and bacon roll (25,000 VND), cheese olive loaf, cheese and garlic loaf, cheese and bacon loaf (48,000 VND a loaf). Besides, they also make meat pies (from 35,000 to 45,000 VND), various cakes (from 13,000 to 95,000 VND and muffins—blueberry, vanilla choco-chip, banana, chocolate, apple and cinnamon (15,000 VND). The ingredients and mechanisms used for baking have all been imported from Australia. All leftover baked goods are donated to charity. 54 Truong Dinh, D1 www.crumbs.com.vn SCHNEIDER’S FINEST On the morning of September 9, 2009 (precisely at 9.09 am) Mr. and Mrs. Harmuth K. Langer and Vân Langer opened Schneider Finest, the first German bakery in HCM City. There are more than 27 different types of breads baked fresh daily and prices range from 40,000 to 50,000 VND (for medium sized loaves) like the multigrain bread (52,000 VND), rustic German baguette (12,000 VND), traditional German Brezel (18,000 VND), hazelnut triangle (25,000 VND), poppy seed pastry (18,000 VND) and the Norlander bread (59,000 VND) which is made of rice flour, fiber and many different seeds. They also bake various German cakes ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 VND a piece like the Beesting Cake (15,000 VND), assorted German cupcakes (84,000 VND) and Tiramisu (25,000 VND). You can also find birthday cakes, pastries, croissants and the Berliner (17,000 VND a piece) which is best described as a German doughnut with strawberry jam inside seems to be a popular choice. Their special Yoghurt Bread (48,000 VND a loaf) and Yoghurt Fruit Cake (40,000 VND) is made of yoghurt flour rich in protein, non-fat so the bread is very fragrant but not sour. 27 Han Thuyen, D1 www.schneiders-finest.com UNE JOURNÉE À PARIS Une Journée à Paris has been open for a-year-and-a-half. The bakery is owned by a French couple who pride themselves in specializing in breads and cakes made in authentic French style. There are more than 14 different types of breads like black bread, brown bread, both of which are good for the digestive system. There are more than 10 ingredients inside breads like sesame, raisin, walnut whose average prices are 12,000 VND a loaf. The bakery also serves more than 30 types of French cakes and meat pies, the latter of which are specially hand moulded. Items include the chouquettes (35,000 VND for 10), chocolate tart (45,000 VND), Ciabatta olives (40,000 VND), Mille Feuille (45,000 VND) and various cakes. The bakery is liked for their Macarons (20,000 VND each) and Foudant Chocolate (40,000 VND a piece). The owner is proud of these two dishes because they are unique to Vietnam; the Macaron is hard to make as it requires the utmost care and attention that only highly qualified chefs understand—one false move and the Macaron can easily burn. The same is true for the Foudant Chocolate, which is unique for its rich flavours and textures. Une Journée à Paris also serves a French breakfast set (70,000 VND) which includes a loaf of bread or croissant, jam and butter, a glass of fresh orange juice and a cup of hot coffee or cocoa. 234 Le Thanh Ton, D1 15 Ngô Quang Huy, Thao Dien, D2 HARVEST BAKING Harvest Baking has been operational for two-and-a-half years now in Tan Binh District and is owned by Lulu and Tim Ottaviania who have between them 15 years of experience as chefs in restaurants and hotels in America. In 2000, they moved to Vietnam to realize their dream of opening their own bakery. After running their business for a couple of years, they decided to realize another dream: training disadvantaged Vietnamese to bake in order for them to have gainful employment and a better shot at building a future. Harvest Baking is most known for traditional New York style bagels (65,000 to 90,000 VND for a six-pack). The bakery has more than 80 different kinds of breads and is popular for its various cakes like the Chocolate fudge cake (275,000 VND) whose recipe has been handed down from generations as the cream is homemade. Harvest Baking also sells their brand of healthy breads made with 12 different seeds and grains or a touch of honey or bits of toasted soy beans whose price ranges from 45,000 to 50,000 VND for 10. Another specialty is their Italian herb country loaf (50,000 VND for 10) which is a round loaf made with fresh Italian herbs grown by Tim, the owner. The hand rolled tortillas (42,000 to 50,000 VND for 6) are popular, too. 30 Lam Son, Tan Binh TOUS LES JOURS Tous Les Jours is a Korean bakery but translates to “everyday” in French. They pride themselves on serving fresh products and emphasize that fresh also means no leftovers. Anything that is left over is given to charity. The bakery has an array of choices in baked goods: almond pastry (27,000 VND), sweet potato pastry (32,000 VND), choco-roll (20,000 VND), red bean pastry (10,000 VND) and toast pan (24,000 VND). Tous Les Jours also serves many sandwiches but two popular choices are the bacon cheese sandwich (55,000 VND) and the tuna sandwich (40,000 VND). Some of the popular cakes on offer here are the chocolate cake (280,000 VND) with moist cream filling and the Tiramisu cake (250,000 VND). Tous Les Jour s distinguishes itself with a coffee bar which serves various teas like Peppermint (35,000 VND) or English Breakfast (32,000 VND) as well as various styles of coffee like the Machiatto (23,000 VND), Cappuccino (40,000 VND). They also serve many flavours of ice cream like Chocolate (40,000 VND), Raisin (42,000 VND), and a variety of smoothies and juices from 38,000 to 47,000 VND. Tous Les Jours also has seating both inside and outside on a lovely terrace where all these goodies can be enjoyed. 180 Hai Ba Trung, D3/ 59 Tran Hung Dao, D1 asialife HCMC 49
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