A dream of spring & baked goods from Arome Bakery.

Autumn and her frostier sister, winter, are seasons I very much enjoy. I like the cool cosy days of subtle colours and soft eggshell shadows. I like the stormy days when the rain tip taps on the window and it puts you in mind of steaming hot drinks and hours lost in a good book. I don’t mind the wind, the rain, or the cold. In fact, I would rather be too cold than too hot.

However, even I was starting to wish away winter and welcome in bursts of colour and some blue skies sunny days. Every year there comes a point when it seems that Winter has overstayed her welcome. This year winter didn’t seem to want to leave. I’ve got to admit I was beginning to get really tired of it.

Finally things have started warming up. The bright blue sky are back again. The days are warmer and longer. All around the trees are celebrating the cessation of their slumber with pink and white blossoms adorning their branches. Birds sing in the trees. Spring has finally sprung! With lock down restrictions ending it was certainly time for a trip out! Of course, I had food on my mind.

So it’s off to central London with my dog ( adventure dog belly ) in a quest for delicious food and a taste of spring! I had a good feeling about the day. For once the there was no engineering works on the trains and the sky was already bright blue. Good omens!

To adventure!

Lockdown London

“when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

— Samuel Johnson

I exited from Charing Cross station into an eerily empty London. It’s around 9:30am but I would expect central London to be far busier. The Strand is empty of cars. There are a few people around the station but as you leave the transport hub the streets are practically empty. After awhile, I realise in amazement that I can hear birds singing. The songs hang in the air, beautiful yet strangely out of place. The songs are welcome but a reminder that we are living in strange and troubling times.

Diligently following Google Maps through the empty streets with growing anticipation and hunger, I finally arrive at Arome. The bakery uniquely fuses French technique with Asian flavours. I don’t think there is anywhere else like this in London? The outside looks promising. There are already people waiting inside to be served. Arome itself is very modern – full of clean lines and minimalist design.

Inside brings a smile. The delicious bakes, bronzed beauties, glisten in the early morning sunshine. The air is richly scented of roasted toasty coffee and heavenly scented breads. There are so many wonderful things here! Choices! Choices! I want to try everything on the Arome Bakery menu. Some of the delights that I didn’t try ( an excuse to go back… ) were the Pistachio Chocolate escargot, croissant with bacon & bechamel sauce, apple miso danish, almond croissant, and so much more.

It so difficult to choose. I want everything, of course, but my belly and wallet are not infinite; So, terribly, I have to pick only four from this amazing selection. They also sell coffees, which incidentally are very good. I order flat white to go with us.

A couple of things to note. Arome Bakery are dog friendly! Woofer was allowed in with us. He also wanted to try everything on the menu. Maybe they should do a doogie bake? #freeideas. The staff were warm and friendly. This is something that’s always important for me.

I walk back in the warm sun with our Arome branded paper bag full of delicious baked treats and head for Embankment Park which is a small and rather lovely park next to Embankment underground station. Where better to enjoy pastries than sitting enjoying the spring weather?

Trying Arome Bakery goodies

“Life is too short to skip dessert.”

= Erika Beth

My bum is quickly parked on the bench to explore the bag of baked treasures.

First off is the honey toast. This square block of thick Japanese shokupan milk bread baked in honey and butter is feather flight and dreamily delicious scented. The edges are caramelised and crisp. Tearing it in half reveals the milky light soft bread. It tastes divine. Just as you expect it leads with crispy crunchy honey butter and melts away in cotton candy light milk bread inside. It’s a great start to my Arome bakery adventure!

The honey butter toast was so good. Could it get better? Yes. Yes it did. Nothing could prepare my face for what awaited it in this brown paper bag of tasty wonders… But I will save the highlight till last. Next there is a savoury bake: Miso, bacon, and spring onion swirl! Umami flavours shine amid the swirls of flaky buttery pastry yet don’t overwhelm. The spring onions bring an earthy fresh contrast. Another stunner.

Next up is a sweet treat: Gula Melaka Coconut Twist. Beautiful bronzed bready bun glazed bun is rich with the caramel-toffee flavours of palm sugar and coconut. It’s rich and sweet, feels kind of naughty in the best way. It reminds me a little of an upscale version of a Chelsea bun and I mean that in the best way. If Chelsea buns were actually from Singapore instead of Chelsea then they might be like this.

And now for my favourite bake i got from Arome Bakery menu… drum roll… brrr brrr brrrrrrrr. It’s the Sausage & Cheese Croissant topped with Japanese BBQ sauce. Just let that sentance sink deep into your foodie soul. I mean, come one! This delicious bake gleams in the sunshine, bronzed and sticky from the brushed bbq sauce.

This croissant is love at first bite. The lightest buttery croissant I’ve tasted. It’s like biting into a flaky butter basted cloud. The savoury hot dog sausage is meaty and perfectly balanced with the bbq sauce and cheese to create such a mouth sensation. I want this again in my face. I need to have it. I would eat this for breakfast every day and not get bored. If I could recommend one thing then get this one if you like savoury.

As you can probably guess, I am a huge fan of this place. Is Arome Bakery the best bakery in London? Obviously this is a bold claim. London has a lot of amazing bakeries. All I can tell you is that this is the best one I have tried. This is a place I will return to again and again. You should visit Arome Bakery too! You owe it to your belly.

Arome Bakery location and details.

Arome Bakery opening times:

Mon – Tue: Closed
Wed-Sat: 9am-5pm
Sun: 9am-4pm

Arome Bakery London directions.

You can actually order Arome Bakery delivery and enjoy it at home or you can order and collect. Follow the link or home delivery or collection: Arome slerp

Horse Guards & St James Park

“In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.”

– Paddington Bear

After the the delicious bakes, it is time for a little wander. Those calories are not going to go by themselves. Time for my legs to do some work. There are always new things to see in London, even after all these years. And so was the case with The Horse Guards Parade. It was fascinating to see the horse guards… well, guarding at the entrance. The parade ground, itself, is a massive grand space bordered on three sides by impressive buildings. I crossed over into St James Park to relax for awhile in the sun.

Later in the day I enjoyed an early dinner at Din Tai Fung. For those of you not familiar, it’s a world renowned Taiwanese dumpling restaurant, most famous for it’s xiao long bao ( soup dumplings ) in which it specialises. Din Tai Fung started in Taiwan but now has many restaurants globally.

Final Thoughts

“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”

– Harriet Ann Jacobs

It felt so good to be out and about again. Spring is a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. Life returns to the world after the long cold deep freeze of winter and so it seems life is starting to return once again to the streets of London.

Hopefully we are turning a corner and this will be the last of the lockdowns. Only time will tell. But for now let’s not think of those things. Let’s enjoy moments spent with those we care about, good food, sunshine days and blue skies. Let’s enjoy our time right now because the future is far. All we have is now.

If you enjoyed this or found it useful ( or think others will ) could you please share this on the social media flavour of your choice? It really helps the blog grow. If you really really enjoyed it then please consider subscribing! Don’t get FOMO, get subscribed! If you enjoyed this then you may also enjoy: Beautiful Hall Place and Gardens or Sevilla in September.

I love to read your thoughts and feedback, so please feel free to leave a message down below in the comments section. Have you tried this bakery yet? If not, get your belly down there! Or maybe you have a favourite bakery of your own? All recommendations are heartily and eagerly welcomed.

Till next time! Stay safe, happy eating and happy travels.