The Lovefools has established itself as a unique dining destination amongst those in the know. Now, the same team has introduced a bakery menu. TravelDine went a-tasting to see if their breads rise to the occasion.
Bandra and bakeries have been pretty synonymous. Even before it became the hipster haven dripping coolth at every corner it is today. So, we weren’t surprised when Chefs Sarita Pereira and Aniket Sawant of the much talked about The Lovefools (which started off with glorious tasting menus), invited us to check out her all-new offerings, straight out of the oven.
Following the trail of Love Crumbs
To get to the beautiful five-room bungalow in the heart of Ranwar village to check out the Love Crumbs bakery and patisserie, we followed the thoughtfully placed signs through the narrow lanes and bylanes off Hill Road. If you’re driving there, we’d advice you call ahead and have their valet meet you and take your vehicle off your hands so you can enjoy this idyllic village stroll.
The high-ceilinged heritage home is decorated with quaint artwork and furniture in vivid hues. A retro Marshall radio belts out moody Jazz while a mini-army flits about, now bringing you cutlery, now huddling in the next room (presumably discussing something more pressing than your next dish!).
Nothing half-baked about the menu
Just like cuisine agnostic The Lovefools, Love Crumbs too travels as effortlessly from Kashmir to Goa to Kerala as it does from France to Spain to Japan. Our buttery brioche was the perfect pull-apart portion, whose hint of sweetness went well with the chicken in a creamy Kashmiri sauce redolent of cardamom, topped with cheese.
A crackling Danish was paired with a Kerala b**f chilli fry. If you ate it with your eyes shut, you’d probably equate the combination with one of the tastiest meat puffs you’ve ever eaten.
The slightly grilled Japanese Sando with a somewhat stodgy green apple habanero and pork didn’t match up to the raised bar though. The Sandos we’ve had in Japan were all sweetness and light, with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and insanely soft milk bread.
As we visited only a couple of days after the menu was launched, we’ll give Sarita and Aniket some time to fine tune and settle in. We’ll surely go back to try some of that Goan poi with recheado prawns, the vegan sourdough sandwich, ‘Drenched bread’ combos, and a Brunost brioche (which teams up this lovely salty caramelised Norwegian cheese from Eleftheria with their brilliant bread)!
And although it’s not on the Love Crumbs menu, we can’t recommend their cold coffee enough. Especially the tiramisu version, which was as lipsmackingly thick, chilled, and cream-rich as one craves on a typically hot Mumbai afternoon.
Pereira did a short stint with Nandu Jubany of the Michelin-starred Can Jubany on the outskirts of Barcelona before she switched from advertising to feeding the appetites and aspirations of Mumbai’s diners. This bakery menu allows you to get a little taste of the flavours in the off-peak hours and will probably entice you to go back for the extended (and elevated) dining experience over multiple courses.
Love Crumbs at The Lovefools
Address: 14/C Bungalow, Boran Road, Ranwar, Off Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050.
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Max: 5 stars)
Food: 7.5/10 | Drinks: 9/10 | Service: 6/10 | Interiors/Décor: 6/10 | Vibe: 7/10
One dish we loved: The brioche is brilliant, just the right amount of sweetness and enough bite. Would willingly eat it 500 different ways.
One dish that didn’t work for us: The Japanese Sando.
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One chef, one recipe: Tiramisu by Chef Aniket Sawant