Bread Ahead hot cross buns were my first stop for an Easter food walk in Soho. Starting near Regent Street, I headed towards Beak Street and Carnaby Street for a look inside the bakery. There were plenty of tempting cakes on the counter, but I had come for a simple seasonal favourite.
Archive visit: this video was published on 1 April 2018. The shop, displays and food shown belong to that visit.
An Easter walk to Bread Ahead in Soho
The film opens with Regent Street behind me and the Easter weekend ahead. My plan was to start with a hot cross bun, then move on to chocolate. Both fitted the occasion, and Soho made it easy to turn a small food purchase into a walk around town.
In the video, I describe Bread Ahead’s bakery and baking school at Borough Market, along with its Chelsea presence. However, this visit takes us to the Beak Street shop. Its black frontage sits beside the bright blue entrance to Kingly Court, with people passing along the pavement outside.
Bread Ahead hot cross buns on the counter
Inside, the hot cross buns sit among a generous display of sweet bakes. Their pale crosses stand out against the browned tops. They look fairly understated beside the decorated cakes, which is part of their appeal: this is a familiar Easter bun rather than an elaborate dessert.
As I explain in the film, the style of bun I have in mind uses dried fruit and a little spice. I mention currants or raisins, cinnamon and citrus peel as possible ingredients. That is a general description, though, rather than a confirmed recipe for the bun I bought.
Pastries, doughnuts and savoury temptations
Next, the camera moves across the rest of the counter. There are doughnuts, croissants, cakes topped with berries and squares of chocolate cake. The range makes it hard to keep the visit focused on just one thing.
There are savoury choices too, including filled bread and open sandwiches. Although I praise the bakery’s bread, cakes and pastries in the narration, the actual tasting in this short film is the hot cross bun. The other food appears as a look around the shop.
Trying the hot cross bun without butter
Back outside, I hold up my purchase and take a closer look at its slightly wonky cross. Normally, I would have a hot cross bun with butter. This time, I try it on its own while standing in Soho.
The verdict is positive. I briefly get tangled up describing the lack of butter, then clarify that the bun itself is not dry. It tastes fresh and works well on its own, even if a little butter would be my usual preference. It is a short, straightforward tasting rather than a comparison of different bakeries.
On towards Carnaby Street and chocolate
Finally, the walk turns towards the next Easter treat: chocolate. I finish by heading up Carnaby Street, with chocolate shops and gift ideas in mind. That is where this short visit ends.
For the wider story, see April in London 2018, which brings the Easter food walk together with theatre and the London Marathon. There is also another bakery visit in the Borough Market breakfast film from 2019.
