We're glad to find that Colombo's artisanal food scene is growing. Just like baguette.lk, Baker's Choice serves up hand-made, lovingly created fresh bread daily.
Bread Types & Prices
There are at least a dozen types of bread on display at the Urban Kitchen, all healthy sourdough bread. If you want the full range (including gluten free stuff), you're better off ordering in advance. You can opt for their crowd favourite brioche loaf, get dark and stormy with the charcoal bun, or just go for a sweeter option like the Viennese with Chocolate Chips or Hazelnut & Chocolate bread. Or just a bunch of bagels (between Rs. 150 and Rs. 200) if you're picking up breakfast.
We opted for a Brioche Loaf and a Fougasse with Blue Stilton (both at Rs. 450). Given the quality preparation, ingredients used, the size of the loaves, and the freshness of the bread, I thought the price was very decent. They also make for a great present if you're visiting someone who appreciates proper freshly baked bread. The fougasse was quite rich too, featuring a couple of cheeses as well as walnuts. I popped it in the oven for a gentle heat and it came out soft, supple, and oh so delicious. The brioche is, of course, an easy choice- a soft, simple bread that works well on its own or in a thick sandwich too.
How To Get Some
You can just drop by their Urban Kitchen branch after 10:30 AM and pick up what you need, or give them a call and make and order for delivery the following day (probably the better option if you're throwing a breakfast shindig). They probably supply to small cafes too, if you're looking for a reliable quality baker (albeit for small orders).
Service
There were a couple of people behind the counter, all friendly and more than happy to guide us through the options available, what ingredients were used, what to use each bread for, and more. They answered all of our questions with enthusiasm and suggestions, which I really appreciated. They also use just brown paper bags for packaging (yay environmentally-friendly choices!).
I also particularly appreciated the cloth they put down over the display counter to protect against Colombo's fly epidemic.
Overall
Everything we tried here was great, and we'll definitely be making this our Sunday stop before whipping up a full English breakfast. The variety is superb, the prices are reasonable, the service is efficient and friendly – what more do you need?
