The Iconic Iranian Bakery – THE KAYANI BAKERY.
The scene resembled that of a rugby game! People jostled through the thick crowds to get to the counter to get their hands on their daily fix. The every so popular, Shrewsbury biscuits!! Kayani bakery is the most loved bakery
Situated in the heart of the camp area in Pune, it opened in August 1955. Three brothers Khodayar, Hormazdiar and Rustom, immigrants from Iran put their heart and soul into this place.
I grew up in Mumbai, but Pune holds a special place in my heart. This is the place where my family travelled umpteenth time. Also, I lived there for 2 years to complete my MBA. Every Pune trip I took, a stop at Kayani bakery was a must. As college kids, we flocked to here as the treats were not only tasty but budget-friendly too!
Over the years one expects the place to change and have some makeup done. But this place is stuck in a time warp. Everything is still the same. The distinct ceiling design, lovely floor pattern even the dark wooden furniture and glass counters seem to be same. I think this boils down to it still being a family-run business. It helped in retaining the individuality of this place.
It’s seldom that a place meshes with people’s everyday lives. But this place is the pride of the city. This was clearly seen in the uproar it created when Kayani Bakery had to shut shop over some license issues. People were angry and disappointed. The emotions and attachment to this place were on display over the social media. The loyal customers filed a petition and showered their love. This support helped, as the bakery reopened within a few months. Thank god!
Some time ago, I had a trip to Pune and Kayani Bakery was on my list. I knew exactly what I wanted. They have a vast menu. As you enter, on the right side, there is a blackboard with handwritten items hoisted high above. Well, my favourites are Shrewsbury biscuits and pound cake. But the Madeira cake, Mawa Cake, wine biscuits are quite popular too. TIP – ensure you know what you want to order before you get to the counter. Trust me on this one.
I had reached around 4 pm and the place was overflowing with people. I stared at the crowd as I devised a plan to get through them. With a little elbowing, here and there I managed to reach the counter in minutes. I placed a rather large order (of course for friends and family too) of Shrewsbury biscuits, Mawa cakes and pound cakes.
As I waited for my order, I saw the bakers scurry back and front from the kitchen to the front shop. Constantly refilling the freshly baked biscuits and cakes. You are hit with their intense aroma. I watched the employees efficiently packing from the large trays filled with a variety of biscuits. On the other corner, the cakes were getting wrapped. The smell, the visuals, the whole vibe made me doubt the order I placed. “Should I add something more?” I remember wondering. But I quickly regained my consciousness and stood firm on my order (Phew…). Not to forget the stare I got from the husband when I asked: “Should we get a Madeira cake too?”
I couldn’t help but notice the uniqueness of this bustling bakery. A crazy madhouse of sorts, with customers screaming their orders. No queues or receipts. Over the counter, people were yelling back to packing stations one after the other. I wondered how anyone could make sense of this chaos. Yet, somehow it was running smoothly and have been for decades now. No orders were messed up. People happily left with their bag of goodies.
Honestly, at that moment, I wished I was on the other side of the counter. The inner baker in me was screaming and wanted to jump into their kitchen, get in on the action. I wish I get that chance one day, maybe a little glimpse at least.
Whenever you find yourself in Pune, do give this iconic place a visit. And be sure to get some buttery and perfectly short Shrewsbury biscuits and the Poundcake too. So glad this place is still around and hope it will be for years to come. 1All alerts1 more alert
