Bhumi Pednekar always surprises. From working as a casting director at Yash Raj Films to an unconventional but excellent debut in Dum Laga Ke Haisha to her recent work in Badhaai Do, Bhumi has managed to keep the audience’s interest riveted even if sometimes slightly confused (we’re looking at you, Raksha Bandhan and Govinda Naam Mera). She was also in some spicy news after the Kiara-Siddharth reception at the St Regis. But that kind of spice we do not necessarily delve into on this website. It is a food portal, and we stick to food and food only, thank you. Just like Bhumi did to a truly decadent-looking chocolate cake on a Story she posted on Instagram. A present from a certain individual she was recently photographed with? Who can tell. We don’t do gossip here on this website. Just tea. We are after all a food website.
Chocolate and its relationship with love and Valentine’s Day have been well explored. But did you know the relationship between chocolate trade and child labor and truly horrific labor practices? Maybe you did not, but a Valentine’s Day post is hardly the place to tell you about persisting slavery-like practices in West Africa.
What we will tell you about are our favorite bakeries in West Bandra. because that’s what we do here. Here you go:
1. DANIEL PATISSIER
If you like a pillowy Japanese cheesecake, look no further. Your prayers are answered. And while at it, your eyes are gladdened and your taste buds satisfied because this really is a very Instagrammable shop. The Kyoto Light Cheesecake is undoubtedly the piece de resistance of this shop, but their macarons are no slouches either. Sure, they have other branches in Mumbai, but this one is our favorite.
2. COPPETTO ARTISANAL GELATO
They’ve moved to a new location just a little away from where they used to be, but their range and taste remain the same old, meaning just top of the range and truly exceptional. Coppeto's is a gelato brand that creates its ice cream with natural milk, yoghurt, Sicilian pistachio, dark chocolate, Madagascar vanilla beans, Italian lemons, and other high-end ingredients. This could be the reason why their swirls are so distinct and the texture is consistently creamy. Salted caramel, Ferrero Rocher, and stracciatella are some of our favorite flavors. Stracciatella is our particular favorite, and it will be yours too.
3. NUTCRACKER
Well. Technically, this is an all-day breakfast place. But do pancakes and waffles not constitute dessert? In our books they do, and nowhere in Bandra do you find better pancakes and waffles than you do at the Nutcracker. Nutcracker has definitely cracked the breakfast game, no notes. Their Belgian Chocolate Chip has been our standard go-to, but we would not say no to their apricot pancake either. As for waffles, we say stick to the classic. Syrup and whipped cream and a waffle—what really could be better? Their French toast is no dummy either. Their dessert collection, while limited, is also sure to satisfy.
4. SMOOR CAFÉ
This Bangalore brand has now opened a new outlet in Bandra, not too far from the above Nutcracker. There is indoor and outdoor seating, selections of bonbons and food, and light eats even. Their selection of hot chocolate, though not as good as what we tasted in Bangalore, is still worth having. The dessert selection, especially their cheesecake, is a worthy addition to your list of things to eat at Bandra.
5. CHOCOLATERIA SAN CHURRO
How could we leave out what has consistently been one of the favorite hangouts of chocolate lovers in Bandra? In addition to putting churros on the Bombay map, this chocolateria, true to its name, serves a mean hot chocolate, even if it may be somewhat too sweet for some people’s liking. Ask them to go easy on the sweet, and what you will still end up getting is a rich broth of the stuff dreams and Bhumi Pednekar’s Instagram stories are made of: divine chocolate.