If your idea of ultimate happiness is indulging in a moreish and decadent slice of cake or melt in the mouth pastry, then you need to pay – aptly named – Dolce Bakery (‘sweet’ in Italian) a visit.
Located on Observatory’s eclectic Lower Main Road, the quaint and inviting bakery has been serving up a variety of delicious baked confectionery such as cakes, pastries, brownies, muffins and biscuits for the past two years. Those with a palette for savoury delights need not worry as the menu boasts a selection of pies, pizzas and bagels too. They also cater for vegan, banting and halaal diets.
Dolce is known for baking a wide selection of savoury bagels each morning from scratch – using traditional methods – and pairing them with toppings such as salmon cream cheese with dill, chives, capers and red onion or dill and chive cream cheese.
Having perfected the savoury bagel, owner Russell Soffer and his team have now decided to elevate the humble bagel to new heights by giving it a sweet edge. They are hosting Bagel Saturday’s over the next two months where you will be able to try one of the limited edition sweet, salty and chewy creations.
I popped on over last Saturday for the second edition to try the chocolate bagel. The interior of the bakery is welcoming (and encouraging) with the slogan ‘Goodness can’t make you fat’ sprawled over the wall. Now with all traces of guilt gone, I decided to sit outside in the lovely shaded area, which is dotted with plants and an art mural. I tucked into my bagel and gingerbread latte (at the recommendation of Russell).
It was deliciously chewy and had just the right amount of chocolate crème patisserie sandwiched between the layers. The bagel was topped with sea salt and a drizzle of caramel sauce. A final touch of popcorn added an element of crunch to this delectable combination of flavours. A good complement to the bagel was the latte, giving off the unmistakable aroma of gingerbread. The taste did not disappoint either.
Now if the chocolate bagel was anything to go by, I am sure that the upcoming sweet apple bagel, filled with sticky cinnamon apples and topped with crunchy granola crumble will be equally as heavenly. So give your tastebuds a treat and get down to Dolce this Saturday. Check the Facebook page for regular updates on any specials and details on what bagel flavour you can expect for the Saturday’s to follow.
As a bonus, you receive a free pastry or baked confection on your birthday (proof is needed). You can also give something back by paying it forward – buy a jumbo for R10, write your name and the date along with a message on a post-it and stick it on the wall. Dolce then bakes and delivers muffins to the needy.
OF NOTE
When Mon – Fri: 7.30am to 5pm, Saturdays: 8am to 2pm, closed Sundays and public holidays
Where 239C Lower Main Raod, Observatory
Cost Bagels, R25 each, other items according to menu
Contact 021 486 9007, [email protected], www.dolcebakery.co.za
Photography courstey Roshaan Patel