It doesn’t seem so long ago that finding bread in Pattaya that wasn’t a standard cut loaf was nearly impossible.
Nowadays thankfully, that has all changed and we can get a wide variety of breads, pastries and cakes that taste like they would back home. It may seem like a small, simple factor but in actual fact it is something that many people comment on and take great relief from realising that they can still get some of their favourite items.
There are some excellent bakeries around that offer some extremely high quality products. The Cabin on Pratamnak Hill which is connected to the New Nordic Group, for example, is a perfect case in hand. Here you can get freshly baked bread and pastries that are sure to whet the taste buds and just the smell alone definitely draws you in.
The London Pie Company on Soi Chaiyaphruek 2 also deserves a mention for some of their savoury pastries such as Cornish pasties an assortment of pies. There is little doubt that these pastries are of the highest quality and especially popular with the British expats living here. In fact, arguably it is these savoury pastries that are the most popular with many locals who are looking for an alternative to Thai food.
However, we all love a slice of soft, spongey cake or a light and airy pastry. Just when we think we a full, we always manage to find that little bit of extra room required to finish a slice of Danish Pastry! Everybody has their own favourite but you will find that it is the lighter cakes and pastries that seem to win the battle here in Pattaya – perhaps it is due to the heat?
You can go almost anywhere in the city and you won’t be far from a quality, international bakery. For instance, in East Pattaya you have the Holland Tulip Bakery, in Jomtien you have Continental and in Naklua, you have the original La Baguette. When you also consider that the larger supermarkets such as Big C, Villa Market and Best also have large selections of different breads (and pastries), you won’t have to try too hard to make that perfect sandwich or find the ideal bread to complement your soup.
When you choose to dine at some of the best restaurants in the city you are usually offered bread before the starter. In the past this was hardly an appetising prospect but that has all changed now. It appears that the bakeries now have the right flour, yeast and dare I say it, the right conditions and skill to be able to make truly first class breads.
Of course, it isn’t just the breads it is the pastries as well. These days it is common to see pastries on a menu and not ones that look like that have just been purchased from the local 7-Eleven. The pastries and cakes that restaurants have on sale are now second to none and have been carefully and painstakingly made by expert chefs. It is hardly surprising that more and more people are visiting cafés and restaurants for the choice of pastries that go superbly well with their coffee.
These days almost all breads are baked locally if not onsite. You can find bread made from an array of different grains as well as different types of bread from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It seems that almost every nationality has had some input into the bread that is available and this can only be of benefit to everyone. The choice of breads that we are blessed with in Pattaya is something that many people would be jealous of. It’s just another of the advantages of living in this great city!
