Aromas of heaven

WARM TASTE

There is no dearth of Iyengar Bakeries in Jayanagar.

Ask the people who have grown up in the area and they will tell you many tales of savouring a hot crispy vegetable puff from a neighbourhood Iyengar Bakery on the way back from school.

Well, it’s a scrumptious snack indeed! But what also starts from this snack is a unique bond that the customer builds with the friendly baker behind the counter.

This bond is exactly what J Raghavan shares with many of his customers, who visit his tiny Iyengar’s Bakery on the 33rd cross of Jayanagar 4th Block.

What makes his bakery so distinct from the others is the instant aroma that pulls you into the store as you pass it on the street.

Nearly a decade old, the bakery is known for its variety of puffs and biscuits.

“My wife and I started this bakery and today, we feel so proud when customers tell us what they like the most in the store,” says Raghavan.

The shop opens early in the morning and the dough for the bread is prepared.

The ingredients for the cakes, sweets, biscuits and puffs are prepared fresh everyday.
The puff takes different forms with a variety of fillings. One can try the regular vegetable or capsicum puff.

For people with an adventurous palate, there are the paneer and gobi puffs.

“We try out different stuffings but we keep the spices light so that the food suits all kinds of palate. But we never make anything in bulk because we don’t want to have any leftovers,” he states.

The breads too come in different flavours. Be it the sweet, wheat or the normal sandwich bread, they are all sold in loaves and brought out fresh from the oven.

While youngsters gorge on puffs and cakes, the working class people make sure they take their share of biscuits home.

Come morning and the racks are packed with a variety of biscuits as there are people who come for a quick snack in the morning. “The most popular ones are the cashew and butter biscuits and the rusks,” says Raghavan. The health freaks can also indulge in the ragi, salt and khara biscuits. The place is packed with college-goers at tea time.

The regulars at the bakery vouch for its hygiene and say that the taste never disappoints. “There is always a variety to choose from in this store, and the best thing about the biscuits is that all the ingredients are balanced,” says Divya, a student.