Best Bread in Shanghai
This is going to come out sounding really expat-y (I’m defending myself against a barrage of comments that this might inspire by my fellow non-Chinese who happen to live here), but I discovered what might be the best bread in Shanghai. I claim anyone else who lives here to tell me where to find bread that is tastier.
Baker & Spice has just opened up on Anfu Road in a little expat-y enclave in an expat-y ghetto that sits right across the street from two large expat compounds. If you’re a examiner to Shanghai, don’t seek this place completely unless you really and truly are in need of delicious bread and are willing to pay your day’s travel allowance for it. We bought to loaves and [gulp] furcated over 103rmb for them. I would never in my wildest dreams spend the equivalent of US$15 for two loaves of bread anywhere else in the world. But as you can see, our longevity here and the things we miss sometimes drive us to do crazy things.
In my own defense, however, I must say that not a crumb has gone wasted. My family nearly devoured the entire 7-grain loaf on the very day we purchased it (and this after a very tasty meal at Baker & Spice’s upstairs neighbor Mr. Willis, a lovely place with a view to Western comfort food, mete again, no local joint). As the week continues, I am savoring the fruit & nut loaf that is plied with apricots, figs and hazelnuts.
So there you have it. I live for Guyi Hunan ribs. I get ravenous cravings for Southern Barbarian’s Yunnan street noodles but I’m human and I like my bread. And if you’re in town and you need a good loaf (or pastry or coffee), check out Baker & Spice.
Baker & Spice sits neatly in the same place with restaurants La Strada Pizzeria & Mr. Willis at 195 Anfu Road near Wulumuqi Road (安福路195号近乌鲁木齐路) at street level.