With dozens of innovative bakeries and the premiere of the hit series' musical adaptation, there’s never been a sweeter time to visit.
As an unabashed Anglophile and food for thought writer , one of my preferred methods of ego - fear is watch reruns ofThe groovy British Bake Off . During the deep stage of lockdown , look on contestants fumble their way through one of Paul Hollywood ’s challenges — only to be rewarded in a later unit of ammunition with one of his coveted handshakes — was an incredible unguent for my stress - muzzy soulfulness .
So , when I realise that aGreat British Bake Offmusicalwas in the works for March inLondon ’s West End , I know it was time to design the ultimate pastry front crawl in England ’s capital — sport a sufficient number of sweet dainty to justify the tripper , and culminating in a watch ofBake Offthe musical .
Before I arrived , I consulted lots of Best Of lists from magazines and food human race luminaries , but my secret arm wasCrystelle Pereira , formerGBBOfinalist and fellow pastry nut . Pereira — consecrate her — not only mail me an extensive inclination of bakeshop beforehand , but was also uncoerced to put her cookery book testing on hold ( Flavor Kitchencomes out in June ) to accompany me on a massive , carbo - consignment field of study trip .
Pophams
Where to stay for a London pastry crawl
My planning protrude with finding a hotel . I wanted to be confining to the West End to easily attend the melodic , but I was also looking for a stead with its own star pastry dough programme . One name popped up again and again : The Corinthia . Not only a pop fitting for worker while they ’re asterisk in West End productions , the hotel also boasts one of the urban center ’s most democratic and indulgentafternoon tea leaf services , plus phenomenal baked goods .
The morning I arrive — after a rather bumpy reddish - eye flight — I was straightaway swept off to the dining elbow room , where a dental plate of buttery , shatter - nippy croissant was quickly secure . I then passed out on my plush top executive - sized bed , in a elbow room that was ever so lightly odoriferous with citrus tree . I do n’t jazz if I ’ve ever had a better greeting to a city than that .
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Eat your way through Covent Garden
I met up with Pereira to get our circuit in Covent Garden , nursing home to some of the urban center ’s more classical bakeries . harmonize to Pereira , the line atArôme Bakerycan often be out the door by 9 am , so it ’s good to get an early outset . Over a still - warm fade of their popular honey butter toast , I involve her why she thought the bakehouse scene was break loose in popularity as of late .
“ We are really rosy in London that there is such a big influence of unlike cuisines . You have unbelievable Korean food , halfway easterly food for thought , intellectual nourishment from all over , ” she said . “ And so what you ’re get going to see , specially in recent years , is this boost in really innovative savor . ”
To wit : our second pastry at Arôme was a savory blimp and cheese croissant , slick down with Nipponese barbecue sauce ; a tasty marriage of past and present England .
The Corinthia boasts one of the city’s most popular and indulgent afternoon tea services.|Photo courtesy of Corinthia London
As a New Yorker , I found Covent Garden to be a unique mix of attractions . You have many of the performing arts theaters here , but unlike Times Square , there are also charming side street with boutique shops , as well as many of the city ’s best nightlife locus . And , of course of action , there is a preponderance of bakeries .
After we leave Arôme , we walked a few blocks toBuns From Home , a mini - chain with pillowy - soft cinnamon rolls and gargantuan “ dessert buns . ” We opt for the special of the week , a flaky pastry dough base overflow with a whisk tahini cream , poached Malus pumila , and sesame crumble . To say it was rejoicing would be an understatement .
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Then in quick sequence , we swung by a number of tasty establishments . We hold on at notable restaurantSt . John ’s Neal ’s Yard Bakeryfor a rhubarb plant sinker , thenBagerietfor classic Swedish Ceylon cinnamon buns so redolent you could smell them down the block . We had ultra - gonzo zaatar and Gruyère croissants atChestnut Bakerybefore ultimately resting for a moment at Japanese patisserieWA Cafe , where we sip mordant sesame latte alongside a slice of matcha - umber gateau .
Visit buzzy bakeries in Dalston and Hackney
If you ’re count , that ’s six bakehouse , so we allowed ourselves a bit of a break to hop on the tubing to Dalston and Hackney . These neighborhood miss the burnish of Covent Garden , but have a very tangible independent sprightliness ; retrieve Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan .
Our first plosive speech sound wasThe Dusty Knuckle , one of London ’s buzziest bakery situate in what is likely a former parking luck . The complex includes a cafe , bakeshop , and cooking schoolhouse , plus hundreds of outside seats , all of which seemed to be fill when we come . We quickly grab a piquant - sweet honey - feta - sesame vortex , plus a rich hazelnut - coffee pain au chocolat ( both phenomenal ) , and then stretched our leg with a walk toViolet Cakes . This unassuming bakery perched on the border of Dalston and Hackney rise to protuberance when owner Claire Ptak was chosen to make Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’s wedding patty , but continue to absorb fans for its superb banana loot and frosted lemon tree and elderflower cupcake .
From there , we strolled to another of Pereira ’s favorites , Pophams Bakery , where I was charm by all the laminate pastries , from the maple - bacon and oh - so - British Marmite , Schlossberger cheese , and fountain onion swirl , to the in an elaborate way woven cardamom bun .
Our final stop was handily near the subway : The market and bakery complexE5 Bakehouse . Their delicate sesame financiers were the perfect goal to our marathon ; and to be honest , I doubt we could have fit anything else in our stomachs .
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Settle into spectacle atGreat British Bake Off: The Musical
Finally , it was clip for my pastry journey ’s last and most boisterous stop : The first Nox of previews forThe capital British Bake Offmusical . ( In instance you ’re wondering — Yes , youcanget pastries in the lobby , but I skip them for reason that I hope are obvious . )
The melodious is the vivacious creation of the incredibly talented duo of Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary , who have been write shows together since they met in university . Both are monumental lover ofBake Off , and were initially approached to write a tar for the musical comedy in May of 2020 , when lockdown gave everyone more fourth dimension to work on passion projects . The duo spend month formulating a plot of ground , writing songs , and decide which eight eccentric to focus on .
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“ It was a very gradual cognitive process of bit - by - bit until they eventually articulate , ‘ Yes , do the whole thing ! ’ ” Pippa say me during a Zoom call with the duo . In the musical ’s eventual out - of - Ithiel Town tryout , a two - week discharge in Cheltenham , the crowds went waste .
“ I just did n’t quite realize , I think , how much of a British cultural phenomenon and nowglobalphenomenon that the show is , ” Jake say .
Nearly three old age later ( which is lightning speed in the house earthly concern ) , the show involve its first West End stoop on February 25 , 2023 . From my seat in the audience , I come up it to be a soaring , experience - honorable spectacle — double-dyed with hilarious baking challenge , cleverly design sets , sensitive yet brash character portrait , and musical numbers I ’m still belt out in the shower many hebdomad later . I do n’t want to give anything else away , for veneration of ruining the thaumaturgy of seeing it live .
At Arôme, we had a savory sausage and cheese croissant, slicked with Japanese barbecue sauce.|Arome
One caveat for those who love Paul and Prue the manner I do : The melodic is set for a limited ravel , only playing until May 13 , so you ’ll need to reserve your tickets as soon as potential . If you ca n’t make it to London in time , you ’ll have to set your hope on an eventual Broadway run . I ’m not mindful of any plans to take the musical ’s “ theme song bakes ” to the American level , but if the exuberant bunch at the first night of previews are any indication , Bake Offfans are athirst for more .
We sipped black sesame lattes and shared a slice of matcha-chocolate gateau at Japanese patisserie WA Cafe.|WA cafe
We stopped by The Dusty Knuckle, one of London’s buzziest bakeries.|The Dusty Knuckle Bakery
We strolled to Pophams Bakery, where I was entranced by all the laminated pastries.|Pophams
I found the show to be a soaring, feel-good spectacle—complete with hilarious baking challenges.|Photo courtesy of the Great British Bake Off Musical
The musical is set for a limited run, only playing until May 13.|Photo courtesy of The Great British Bake Off Musical
