Pune’s love affair called Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury. If you are a Punekar, there’s no way you haven’t heard of this light, delicately crumbly, and buttery sweet treat. The name points to a town in the UK with cookbooks from the 17th century mentioning something called Shrewsbury cakes. However, there’s a slight twist. Apparently, the biscuit is hardly a part of the local life in Shrewsbury. One search online and you have people from the town saying how they have never heard of the biscuit. But thousands of kilometres away, here in Pune, it’s synonymous with the city, and bakeries that have been selling it for generations.
From UK to Pune
One of the earliest mentions is said to be in the 1658 The Compleat Cook book, where the recipe describes Shrewsbury cakes or biscuits as rich, and shortbread-like. Then there’s another story that credits an 18th-century baker named Mr. Palin. Today, in Shrewsbury town, the Shrewsbury cake or biscuit is said to survive mostly in cookbooks, culinary-related trivia, Christmas markets, and as souvenirs. However, in Pune, the biscuit has its true fan club due to its journey that’s closely tied to the legacy of Irani bakeries. While the biscuit may carry the name of an English town, it’s Pune that has truly made it famous.
Crumbly, buttery magic
For those uninitiated, Shrewsbury biscuit is a pale golden colour, buttery shortbread-style biscuit. One bite and it crumbles and melts in the mouth. It’s rich and sweet to taste.
Stories attached to some of the most iconic bakeries in the city:
City Bakery: The machines that are used here, are more than 50 years old, and came with a lifetime guarantee. Both egg and eggless varieties of Shrewsbury are available here
Kayani Bakery: It occupies the same spot as a pre-independence Italian eatery, named E. Muratore. The letters “EM” are still engraved on the facade
The Royal Bakery: The building, where the bakery stands, was designed during the British rule, around the mid 1800s, and is older than the bakery itself
Husseny Bakery: Established in 1932, the bakery first operated in Bhawani Peth, and was later moved to Taboot Street in the Camp area, where it stands today
Naaz Bakery: This is one of the oldest bakeries in town, started in 1938
It was a nice tea time ritual with my grandparents, so there’s a bit of nostalgia attached to it. I haven’t really had Shrewsbury from anywhere else, it’s unique to Pune. I have had friends add Shrewsbury to their wedding hampers, too
Pic: Jignesh Mistry
From UK to Pune
One of the earliest mentions is said to be in the 1658 The Compleat Cook book, where the recipe describes Shrewsbury cakes or biscuits as rich, and shortbread-like. Then there’s another story that credits an 18th-century baker named Mr. Palin. Today, in Shrewsbury town, the Shrewsbury cake or biscuit is said to survive mostly in cookbooks, culinary-related trivia, Christmas markets, and as souvenirs. However, in Pune, the biscuit has its true fan club due to its journey that’s closely tied to the legacy of Irani bakeries. While the biscuit may carry the name of an English town, it’s Pune that has truly made it famous.
As someone born and brought up in Pune, there will always be a certain appreciation for Shrewsbury. It was the crème de la crème of cookies and, in a way, still is.
Pic: Jignesh Mistry
Crumbly, buttery magic
For those uninitiated, Shrewsbury biscuit is a pale golden colour, buttery shortbread-style biscuit. One bite and it crumbles and melts in the mouth. It’s rich and sweet to taste.
Good quality biscuits weren’t that easily available when I was growing up. And every time one would go to Camp, the request would be to get back some Shrewsbury. It would dip well in milk, particularly, and wouldn’t fall apart that easily
Though I occasionally binge on them now, I have had way too many back in school. It’s full-on nostalgia
Stories attached to some of the most iconic bakeries in the city:
City Bakery: The machines that are used here, are more than 50 years old, and came with a lifetime guarantee. Both egg and eggless varieties of Shrewsbury are available here
<p>You will find Salamat Irani, the third-generation owner of City Bakery, at the bakery almost every morning<br>Pic: Jignesh Mistry</p>
Once, I had a customer who wanted to taste Shrewsbury. He ate, bought half a kilo, and told me that he is from the town of Shrewsbury. He said that the Shrewsbury he tasted at our bakery, tasted better than the one found there. I’ll always remember this incident because I have never encountered anyone from Shrewsbury
Kayani Bakery: It occupies the same spot as a pre-independence Italian eatery, named E. Muratore. The letters “EM” are still engraved on the facade
Pic: Jignesh Mistry
The Royal Bakery: The building, where the bakery stands, was designed during the British rule, around the mid 1800s, and is older than the bakery itself
Pic: Jignesh Mistry
Husseny Bakery: Established in 1932, the bakery first operated in Bhawani Peth, and was later moved to Taboot Street in the Camp area, where it stands today
Pic: Jignesh Mistry
Naaz Bakery: This is one of the oldest bakeries in town, started in 1938
end of article
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