This article was written for the June edition of Bite Magazine,
and can be found online here.
When I heard that Deli Polonia were opening a bakery within their now well-established shop, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would find myself at their door. From humble beginnings in 2005with a small unit on Leith Walk, a few years later the shop’s owners have now realised their dreams of developing what was originally an import shop into a bustling store and café. Now, they’re proud to have an in-house bakery to supply their own traditional breads for the café’s sandwiches, as well as selling the loaves whole or sliced in the shop.
They’re taking the authentic Polish recipe breadmaking seriously too. Flour is imported directly from Poland, and it took them a while for owners Lucyna and Kelvin Ellis to find the right person to take on the mantel of being ‘the breadmaker’, as well as test recipes, of course!
On a recent visit, I was lucky to be given a backstage tour of the kitchen, and had the chance to see the various loaves sitting patiently in their trays whilst the dough did its rising magic. Forty minutes later, a basket piled high was brought out to the front of the shop. The unmistakable smell of freshly-baked bread genuinely turned heads as it wafted through the store!
I had my eye on a couple of loaves, and had first pick from this batch. The half rye and half wheat loaf had the most perfect crust, and a light texture inside but with the classic munchy flavour that rye gives. Another loaf, sprinkled with caraway seeds and made with wholewheat was the sort of bread that’s just waiting to be taken home to hang out with a bowl of soup for lunch, ooh, and not forgetting a lick of butter.
Deli Polonia already make some fresh cakes including cheesecake and the Polish speciality karpatka and they plan to add more along with pastries. In the meantime, for a genuine taste of Poland and Eastern Europe, try different flavours of spicy kielbasa sausages, pierogi, condiments and sweets. And not forgetting, of course, their renowned selection of vodkas.
There will be a Zubrowa vodka tasting night, and featuring speciality Polish foods on 29th June. This is a Bite Club event and details can be found online here.
That sounds delicious thanks for posting Leila. Will definitely give it a try.