Hmmm Bakery

13 March 2020

HMMM BAKERY

64 Clare Street, Lower Gardens, Cape Town

This is a salutary lesson on how impressions can be created on the internet with some carefully written copy and an artfully styled photograph, neither of which truly reflect the reality on the ground.

The elder goddaughter, ever on the lookout, saw mention of Hmmm Bakery on the interwebs and forwarded a screenshot of the blurb and a pic of the interior.  I’d often walked past the unimpressive exterior of the place and it didn’t seem like a hip and happening spot to me. The thing the goddaughter forwarded created a more favourable impression and I thought I ‘d give it a try.

If the exterior is unprepossessing, the interior isn’t much better. One feels like you’ve walked into a large, busy and slightly untidy farm kitchen focused on baking rather than on operating a coffee shop. Ordinarily this operation would be out of sight of the customer unless it’s a carefully designed space meant to impress. Here, it could be a parody of the chef’s table dinner at the Mount Nelson.

Hmmm Bakery is surrounded by light industries with probably the least amount of passing trade ever. I can’t see many passers-by popping in for coffee and cake, never mind hipsters.

Two ancient glass and wood frame display cases, at right angles to each other, form the barrier between the bakery and the dining area. There are four round metal tables with mosaic glass tops and metal chairs; this is furniture one puts on the patio.  There’s some counter seating, as an afterthought and whatever decoration there is, is overwhelmed by the industrial feel of the space.

Hmmm Bakery is not your chic coffee shop.

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The breakfast menu, on a blackboard, is possibly the briefest I’ve ever seen with only an omelette and a few toasted or open sandwiches.

I went eenie meanie miney mo, and the omelette was it (R56.) The filling of ham, cheese and tomato was suggested to me. The menu doesn’t mention any options of fillings and it might just be omelette du jour. One coffee or one tea appears to be included in the deal.

The good news is that the omelette was really excellent. It was light, fluffy and flavoursome, just as you’d make it at home if you’re a good cook. I mean this as a sincere compliment.

The omelette was accompanied by two slices of good, toasted brown seed loaf.

Seeing as how this is a bakery, I tested a flourless chocolate cake type thing and an apple and pecan muffin. Both were excellent though the almond flour cake was a smidgen dry (almost like a brownie) but the sizable muffin was moist and scrumptious.

The coffee (espresso and latté) is serviceable.

This area has no shortage of coffee emporiums. Wembley Square is just up the hill, The Archive is nearby and even Vida e Caffe and Shift, both  on Roeland Street, are close enough to be first choice for those who want to coffee in a cool spot. In its present state of dishevelment and with such a brutally limited menu, Hmmm Bakery is never going to make any list of Cape Town hot spots.

However if you’re in the ‘hood, fancy a good omelette and prioritise decent nosh over slick style, pop in.  You’re not likely to get lost in the crowd.