Store Review: Ofen

Nestled in the heart of Banjara Hills, with a warm red facade and a seemingly incongruous mobile army van at its doorstep (that too a Swiss one), the Ofen is a popular bakery celebrated for having the best breads in town.

Its popularity can be attested by the long line of cars outside its doors, their owners having stepped in for a bite fresh from the oven. The oven, indeed is what Ofen means, and is all about. A marvel of Swiss engineering, the eco friendly mobile oven produces baked goods of a quality and variety randomly found in Europe, but utterly unique here.

If you’re interested, you could also get them to show you round the insides of the oven. No freaky paranoia over intellectual property rights infringement here. Just a sober and quiet pride. The oven uses just one bag of charcoal per day. And boy, if you’re thinking that they don’t put it to use, you can think again. With just 25 kilos of coal in its belly, it can churn out breads and other suchlikes, which have been baked at 200º C. And mark you, that churn is all through the day. That’s the marvel of Swiss engineering that we are talking about.

Their celebrity for their baked goods is well earned as each item has been carefully thought out (by guess who? We asked, and the answer was… a food technologist!!!) and planned to ensure a quality, healthy treat.

For the health conscious or even the finicky gourmet, the selection of breads available is truly eye opening. From the Whole Wheat, Multi Grain, Rye and Farmhouse Loaves to the French Baguettes, Focacias and Gogel Hopfs, the choice is wide enough to keep you coming back for more. (Or never again, if you know that picking and choosing was always your weak point.) And did we talk of the Baguettes which were just yummm!? Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, they tasted absolutely nothing like the “sandwich bread” available in departmental stores.

The breads are low in gluten (sticky protein substance) and egg free where specified. Should you choose to play the role of host / hostess and wish to impress, you could also avail the new pre-baked service (75% baked), and serve their delectable baguettes from the comfort of your own kitchen.

While the breads are certainly stars in their own right, the bakerie has not forgotten the old adage that “man cannot live by bread alone.” Their extensive menu featuring many pastas, salads, grills and sandwiches reflects this thought. The Chicken Pepper Steak and the Penne Chicken are classic favorites. However, some of the sandwiches which are supposed to be of spring vegetables were lacking in imagination.

In a city largely inhospitable to the early bird, it is refreshing to find a place that opens its doors for breakfast at 8 am, and has a continental breakfast menu including Waffles and Pancakes.

The atmosphere here is a feast for the senses, as you are surrounded by the warm smell of baking bread or the fruity smell of a hookah. The conversation of friends, with coffee and desserts that appeal to the eye and the palate makes Ofen the quintessential international bistro.

For the traveler who is yearning for a taste of home, or the local who is searching for a taste of Europe, the Ofen is the place to go.