The commencement to Christmas has started, with bread kitchens and patisseries over the city idealistic even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as the business has been taking delicate steps towards regularity. Cooks, baked good gourmet specialists and retailers state that after Diwali, individuals have been more responsive and they anticipate strong deals, both on the ground and in home conveyances, in the following not many weeks.
“The Advent Sunday, which was on November 29, marked the beginning of Christmas season. While the air of apprehension still hangs heavy around the virus, people have been coming to our shop and purchasing goodies… We have traditional plum cakes and rum cakes… apart from our specialty Stollen or Christstollen, a traditional German fruit bread of nuts, spices, dried or candied fruit, coated with powdered sugar or icing sugar,” said Robert Hoppel, owner of Indulgence – The Cake Shop in Koregaon Park.
“…While we might not be able to compare the celebration to the ones we have had in the previous years, people are looking forward to festivities, given the year we have all been through,” he said.
Just about exceptionally old, Persian Bakery is planning for Christmas with its standard things, for example, wine cakes, rum cakes and exclusively formed treats. “We started our preparations for Christmas two months ago as that’s when we soak our dry fruits and nuts. We then begin by December 15. We are taking this year one day at a time as the situation is still uncertain,” said Bijan Irani, proprietor of Persian Bakery, which has branches in Kalyani Nagar and Pune Camp.
While they generally get numerous requests, from houses of worship, people and gatherings the same, Irani said that this year they anticipate lessening numbers. “Inquiries are surely coming in, but they are fewer than prior years. But rest assured, we are taking every possible step so that there is no compromise when it comes to the safety of our patrons…,” he said.
Nidhi Dugad of Kreative Kakez, Bibwewadi, and Kiran Rubde, proprietor of seventh Heaven Cake Shop establishment in Kothrud, likewise said that they anticipate that the footfall should increment and requests to come rolling in once Christmas is simply round the corner.
Ashmita Muchhal, neighborhood dough puncher, chocolatier and proprietor of Amazer Bakery, said that despite the fact that she needed to close shop during the lockdown, the happy season has seen a flood in the interest. “I have had my shop in Kothrud for the last two-and-a-half years. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the pandemic and the lockdown, we had to take the decision of closing our outlet. We are now taking online orders from our studio, near our residence in Kothrud,” she said.
Muchhal said that separated from the typical Christmas cakes and cupcakes, her hot cocoa bombs are the season’s hot venders. “We have our cakes, chocolate bombs and cookies customised into gift boxes and hampers. The pandemic has prompted people to move online and make purchases, and it is here we have seized the opportunity. The sale was high during Diwali, but we predict a further hike during Christmas,” she said.
Gourmet expert Aanchal Sapra of Reve Patisserie, Kalyani Nagar, said that this Christmas, she will present two new things, a Christmas bulb and the Santa Claus cake. “Apart from our usual Christmas products such as gingerbread cookies, customised Christmas cupcakes and traditional Christmas cakes, we have the Christmas bulb which resembles Christmas tree ornaments. People, especially children, can associate with the product as decorating the tree is an integral part of the festival. We also have the Santa cake as well as Santa brownies…,” said Sapra.
She additionally shared that in spite of the fact that her bread kitchen has seen fair footfall because of an open premises, she has been getting a lot of solicitations for blessing boxes and hampers. “As no Christmas parties and gatherings are possible with family and friends, people have opted for gifts and hampers. They want to have a set of assorted items that can be sent or couriered in festive packaging,” she said.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Daily Pune journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
