BunsFromHome Part II
This time, it's the fancy buns
Welcome back for another bun-tiful edition of Stack Of Subs (did that pun work ?). I didn’t have enough space in a Quickbites to adequately cover all of the gobsmacking buns, so for the first time ever, we’re going back! If you want a refresher, or simply missed the first article, click here.
We’re going to break tradition and skip past the opening ramble and vibe because it ain’t changed. Let’s just get into it!
The Savoury - Spinach and Feta
This was weirdly the hardest bun to get. They were almost always either sold out already or not yet quite done when I would get to the bakery early. Maybe I just had bad luck or… was it that good?!?!?!?1 Thankfully, after a midday dentist appointment, I spotted one gleaming in the shop window. The spinach and feta combination is one of the classic go to moves for most bakeries now. When it’s good, like the Gail’s version, you get rich saltiness of the feta combining with the slight sweet and herby spinach. When it’s bad, you end up with a bland stodgy mess where the spinach has released too much water and made a sloppy pile of pastry.
The BFH edition is closer to perfection than slop but it just doesn’t quite hit the spot. The feta delivers a decent enough jab of saltiness but I want a stronger hook for it to really land.2 The spinach similarly has a slight sweetness but the herby finish was lacking. The pastry itself is very similar to the OG bun they sell, as you can see in the cross section. Same croissant hybrid crunchiness, you can’t fault the pastry. I also rate the fact that they fill the pastry twice, one on top and one in the middle. It makes sure you get the filling each time. I just wish the filling had a bit more oomphff or savoury hit via MSG. Just something to make you think, “f*ck that’s delicious” rather than “oh that’s quite nice”.3
The Rating 7.4/10
The Dessert Specials
These are the moneymakers, the eye catching displays, front and centre of the windows of every BFH. Luring you in to the shop as you’re walking by. Almost every dessert special that I’ve seen has looked beautiful.4
Cheesecake
This bun captured my heart immediately after the first bite.5 It was simultaneously one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever had whilst still retaining the signature BFH bun crust. It was a beautifully smooth cheesecake, rich and creamy without going overboard. The filling was perfectly cut by the berry jam and the little crumbles of cheesecake base add some buttery goodness to finish it off… Cool, compliments out of the way.
It would be insane to eat one of these by yourself, they’re sooo big and almost unwieldly to eat. You need to be sitting down with a knife and fork and a partner in crime. Even then it can be a very messy situation because the filling overwhelms the underside of the crust within milliseconds. So while I really enjoy the dessert, in a frankly bizarre twist, I would prefer if it was smaller.
Side Story
I think the employees agree with me too on the size issue. You can see it’s really crammed into the box. I had a new starter serve me and he physically couldn’t get it into the box. He had to call over the manager and they basically had to employ an origami folding technique to get it in there. So I feel like even the staff would enjoy it if it was less substantial.
Rating 8.5/10
The Tiramisu
I’m slowly becoming a fan of tiramisus. Not sure whether it’s just been a good run of some of the best tiramisus I’ve ever had or if I’m maturing.6 Would I class the tiramisu from BFH as an actual tiramisu ? Of course not, it’s in a bun. But is it delicious ? Hell yeah! It shares the same brilliance of a well executed tiramisu; The sweet filling, that is creamy and smooth. Just when you think it’s getting a bit too rich, the coffee flavour comes sweeping in. But instead of a F-16 jet style swoop that’s going to knock your block off, it’s more of a sweet and gentle robin-esque swoop. As a coffee hater, I really appreciate it. Fear not coffee lovers, I had multiple coffee-holics try it too and they still enjoyed the quality of the coffee too. It’s all wrapped in a bow by the delicious chocolatey crumb, a lovely finish that Haaland would be proud of.7
Overall Rating: 8.8/10
Conclusion
The dessert buns are eye catching and if the flavours really speak to you, it’s like a siren song, luring you into the shop. Realistically though, it’s not something I would get often or even as an occasional treat. They’re so big and cumbersome to eat, they’re one of the rare instances where I agree, less is more.8
The savoury buns are where I get back to true form. Give me more of almost everything. More cheese, more spinach, more herbs, more goddamn punch! I’ve been spoiled by Gail’s and multiple London bakeries. A decade ago, the spinach and feta would be a class leader. But in the modern game, you really need to stand out, to avoid becoming just like the rest of them.
Cue dramatic music al la 1940s radio play (click on good to get the exact vibe)
#boxing
Shoutout Bam Bam Baklava
Given my photography skills, you may have to take my word for it but I’m trying to get better!
I’ve tried 4 at this point I think. All shared with folks so I don’t have to see my doctor about diabetes before I’m 31
Cue sound of my closest friends guffawing
Although he’s not finishing that much this season… #secondseasonsydrome
Orrrrrrrr make the crust thicker to handle the substantial weight, it would make it easier to share and treat it like a mini cake.