Birthday cake

Once upon a time, Bosotto had a hotel. He bought it from his fellow Italian, Giacomo d'Angelis and renamed it the Hotel Bosotto Bros. He did no damage to the reputation of the Hotel d'Angelis and the Governor soon had extended the catering contract to cover Bosotto Bros bakery as well. In 1950, Bosotto decided to move back to his native land and the bakery business was sold to B. Muslapa Chowdhry, who was then the supplier of milk and dairy products to Bosotto's. 

For close to the last 100 years, if not more, Bosotto's has been a name to reckon with in the city's bakeries. Resisting the temptation to expand, Muslapa Chowdhry, his successor M. Subramaniam and then his grandson K. Rajkumar, stayed put in this location on Mount Road. There is only one other outlet, on Nungambakkam High Road, but this is where both the showroom and the manufacturing facility were located.

Bosotto's had the highest point of its popularity 51 years ago. In February 1961, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were visiting Madras. It was Prince Andrews' first birthday and Chief Minister Kamaraj had organized a reception for them at Rajaji Hall. The birthday cake? From Bosotto's, of course!

Same difference?

Wandering around Royapuram a few weeks ago, I came across this store. The name was intriguing, even if the other signboards were pretty much the regular bakery stuff that can be seen anywhere in Chennai.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed inside the bakery as well. I'm not sure what kind of Persian delights I was expecting, but it seemed to have all the same breads, buns and biscuits that could be found in any old bakery. Or maybe the New Persian Bakery is very discriminating about who it serves the genuine Persian stuff to; must try to get friendly with the folks there and find out if there are indeed trays of zulbia or halva kept hidden for regular patrons!

The Eater's Digest - 4

This was one of the 'happening' places in Chennai, in those days when Coke and Pepsi could be seen only in Hollywood movies and pizza was what Cakes & Bakes gave us. Good to see they are still going strong!

Warm bread

On a few of the afternoons during the last week, parts of Chennai had the 'showers' - an ominous build-up of dark clouds, threatening a deluge to break all records, followed by gusty winds that chase most of the clouds away. Invariably the clouds, being sore losers, dump some of their content in a quick burst and for about 15 minutes, visibility is down to 20 metres, the bike riders and pedestrians rush to the nearest tree or store-front and wait until the clouds finish their showing-off.

Having a car, I'm luckier and keep going my way. One afternoon, it was still dark as I passed this bakery. Not having much of an overhang, it is not a favoured sheltering place for those caught by the rain. That day, the contrast between it's interiors and the dripping, gloomy street was stark; the brightly lit inside was almost beckoning me to enter and pick up some of the fresh muffins that they normally stock every afternoon. It was tempting; they are really good bakers and I like their products - but the raindrops were large enough to deter me from stopping for them. Still, the memory of the smells and warmth inside the bakery kept me company until I reached my destination!

PS: Magiceye, thank you for the 'Araldite & Ford Cortina' - once I got the word 'Duralite' into my head, I couldn't think of any other brand!

The Eater's Digest - 2

Sometimes, you don't give credit to a good idea just because it has been in-your-face for a while. I had long assumed that this bakery on CP Ramaswamy Road was just one more of those many 'cake shops' over Chennai. It was only recently when they re-did their signage that I noticed the 3-way partnership that has created this enterprise; the Corporation of Chennai, Chennai Culinary Institute and the Rotary Club (Madras East).

Is there any other outlet of this bakery in the city? Would hate to think that it is just a one-shop initiative - so if you have seen any 'Winners' other than this one, do let me know where!