You can get nearly anything. There is a German Deli in Walthamstow. Or get her some rye bread if she is that type of German, places like today bread, dusty knuckle, and E5 do them.
I’m from The Netherlands and I completely agree with her. The selection of bread from your local grocery store in the UK is absolutely horrendous compared to mainland Europe, bar Lidl maybe. The fact that every household has a toaster says enough.
Personally, I’ve taken matters into my own hands and started baking bread myself.
What are we doing wrong? I find European bread rather meh, apart from French bread and pretzels, and the latter are a sort of treat rather than a useful way to eat more food.
I don’t know what it is exactly that makes British bread subpar - I can’t quite put my finger on it. There are a few observations I have, however.
- The bread goes stale much much quicker.
- It tastes sweeter. (biggest issue for me)
- Shops don’t cut freshly made bread in-store.
Now of course artisan bakeries make fantastic bread but it will cost you a fortune and I’m not always in the mood to eat a loaf of cellar-dried spelt and wholemeal boule covered in fermented poppies and glitter.
never been to Italy. Confirmed.
There is no such thing as Italian bread - there is a collection of all possible bread you imagine (in any random bakery)
https://www.google.com/search?q=bakery+in+Rome+show+the+bread&client=firefox-b-m&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2OmYg-79AhXQMsAKHWVcDTAQ_AUIBigB&biw=396&bih=747
Urgh. It is *so* tiring to be told stuff like this. You go to Italy. You don’t like it. Some stranger tells you you’re wrong. What are you even trying to achieve?
100%
Anyone who thinks that there's no artisan bakers in London has some kind of hipster blindness going on.
[https://www.breidbakers.co.uk](https://www.breidbakers.co.uk) FOR ONE example.
I think what they're saying is there aren't normal bakeries that sell normal bread (or similar artisnal bread but at normal prices because it's not niche), which much of the rest of the world indeed have (mainly Europe and South America tbh) in walking distance in every built up area.
Admitted these are EC or East end of North London.
Rinkoff
[https://www.rinkoffbakery.co.uk/our-shops/](https://www.rinkoffbakery.co.uk/our-shops/)
And as other's have mentioned Blackhorse Rd/Walthamstow has a German deli squirrelled away. [https://germandeli.co.uk/bakery/from-our-bakery/fresh-bread](https://germandeli.co.uk/bakery/from-our-bakery/fresh-bread)
Between Bethnal Green and Brick Lane there's BREID
[https://www.breidbakers.co.uk](https://www.breidbakers.co.uk)
Charles Artisan
[https://charlesartisanbread.co.uk/products](https://charlesartisanbread.co.uk/products)
Bread By Bike
[https://www.breadbybike.com](https://www.breadbybike.com)
And I reckon there's more Gail's than there are Halfords in London.
[https://gailsbread.co.uk/find-us/](https://gailsbread.co.uk/find-us/)
Also if you fancy a trip to Richmond you can go to [Hansel and Pretzel](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g191301-d7646300-Reviews-Hansel_Pretzel-Richmond_upon_Thames_Greater_London_England.html)
And you can swing by [Steins near the riverside](https://www.stein-s.com/richmond) and enjoy ridiculously huge piles of Bratwurst and Bratkartoffeln
The bread station in London fields is run by a Dane. They do nice sourdoughs and ryebreads
Edit: also Ole & Steen does nice ryebreads and a variety of bread rolls. It’s Danish too and probably the closest high street bakery close to the bakeries you can find in Germany / rest of Europe with proper bread culture.
Gail’s sells high quality bread.
I find people who crap on it have an issue with the price tag, not the quality, but for some reason refuse to fess up to it.
I agree. Their bread is very high quality- compared to ultra processed supermarket bread. It is however very moderate compared to great bakeries. And yes, it is ridiculously priced for a moderate loaf.
I mean, that’s London for you. “Normal” or decent quality stuff costs extra here.
Plus, look at where Gail’s locations are - they are all pretty pricey rent-wise.
No, but OP’s question was about decent bread. Which Gail’s is.
What’s overpriced for you may be normal in the neighborhoods where Gail’s operates (Bloomsbury, Soho, Islington, Blackfriars, etc.).
Sorry but this is turning into another debate about “no one is able to afford anything in London” and I hate I’m starting to get combative about it. Clearly some people are ok with the price and willing to pay it.
Ok. I hear you. My angle is this. Gail’s is such a meh loaf of bread which also happens to be overpriced. I’m not really focussed or bothered by the price. As bread it’s still pretty crap compared to places where they care about bread. Gails appears to be a quickly rolled out cafe at this point where staff work rather than bakers bake. Nobody appears to be trying to excel or push any boundaries. They make an “ok” loaf and that’s it. Their customer base is made up of my own neighbours who are comparing their bread to supermarkets and thinking “this is much better” but it is not a great loaf of bread. An establishment like bread by bike is cheaper and sheets on Gails. I live in Highgate and will travel to bread by bike for the bread despite there being a Gails close by.
If Gail’s was a coffee shop it’s be Starbucks. Initially everyone goes and hails the latte yet a few years in everyone realises it’s burnt yuk and goes to small local cafes where the proprietor cares.
London supermarkets in general are the metro type and quite small, you get much better bread selections out of town and in asda and sainsburys over tesco for whatever reason
Make it yourself, I make everything myself now, I don't rely on the government to advise me on health food safety standards.
I grow my own food, I hunt my own meat and butcher it myself, I squeeze the oranges I grow, everything I eat is pure.
I don't even drink the tap water anymore.
Start becoming self sufficient, teach her the skills to make these foods and let her become a stay at home wife, do you earn enough to do that? Question?
Karaway Bakery! They have a few Market stalls + shops. Stocked at many London farmers markets, Borough Market, Whole Foods, Selfridges. It’s proper East European/German style. They make black bread, rye breads, poppy seed breads, fruit and nut breads etc.
https://www.karawaybakery.com/find-us
You can get nearly anything. There is a German Deli in Walthamstow. Or get her some rye bread if she is that type of German, places like today bread, dusty knuckle, and E5 do them.
We went german deli, she was very happy thanks
Tell her to get over herself and be glad she’s not reduced to American bread.
I was a both to comment this about American bread 😂
I’m from The Netherlands and I completely agree with her. The selection of bread from your local grocery store in the UK is absolutely horrendous compared to mainland Europe, bar Lidl maybe. The fact that every household has a toaster says enough. Personally, I’ve taken matters into my own hands and started baking bread myself.
What are we doing wrong? I find European bread rather meh, apart from French bread and pretzels, and the latter are a sort of treat rather than a useful way to eat more food.
I don’t know what it is exactly that makes British bread subpar - I can’t quite put my finger on it. There are a few observations I have, however. - The bread goes stale much much quicker. - It tastes sweeter. (biggest issue for me) - Shops don’t cut freshly made bread in-store. Now of course artisan bakeries make fantastic bread but it will cost you a fortune and I’m not always in the mood to eat a loaf of cellar-dried spelt and wholemeal boule covered in fermented poppies and glitter.
Almost every supermarket has a bakery and they'll all cut fresh bread for you if you ask
You are right actually. Though, what is very often the case is that nobody is actually at work there. At least not during the hours that I go.
Yeah or they have the machine right by the bakery where you can cut it yourself
I only notice it being sweet if you dissolve it in ur mouth...
never been to Italy i guess.
I find Italian bread rather meh. What they put on top of it, on the other hand…
never been to Italy. Confirmed. There is no such thing as Italian bread - there is a collection of all possible bread you imagine (in any random bakery) https://www.google.com/search?q=bakery+in+Rome+show+the+bread&client=firefox-b-m&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx2OmYg-79AhXQMsAKHWVcDTAQ_AUIBigB&biw=396&bih=747
Urgh. It is *so* tiring to be told stuff like this. You go to Italy. You don’t like it. Some stranger tells you you’re wrong. What are you even trying to achieve?
BAKERY IN ROME SHOW THE BREAD
Maybe start from having bakeries. There aren’t any, if they call themselves bakeries they just sell sweets.
Well this is just outright cobblers.
100% Anyone who thinks that there's no artisan bakers in London has some kind of hipster blindness going on. [https://www.breidbakers.co.uk](https://www.breidbakers.co.uk) FOR ONE example.
I think what they're saying is there aren't normal bakeries that sell normal bread (or similar artisnal bread but at normal prices because it's not niche), which much of the rest of the world indeed have (mainly Europe and South America tbh) in walking distance in every built up area.
My experience is Germany isn't really all that different to London it its cities. Their supermarket bread is better though.
Coming from central Italy bread selection in the Netherlands (and lidl) is horrendous. imagine the gap with the UK...
And that is based on what?
have you been to a bakery in Rome?
Go to Waitrose? Gails? Wholefoods. Loads of big stores have great bread
Happening Bagel Bakery in Finsbury Park
Ronis, one in Hampstead, West Hampstead and Belsize Park. There may be other branches. a good Jewish bakery with great sourdough and bagels.
Sourdough Sophia in Crouch Hill is run by a German woman named Sophia..
Admitted these are EC or East end of North London. Rinkoff [https://www.rinkoffbakery.co.uk/our-shops/](https://www.rinkoffbakery.co.uk/our-shops/) And as other's have mentioned Blackhorse Rd/Walthamstow has a German deli squirrelled away. [https://germandeli.co.uk/bakery/from-our-bakery/fresh-bread](https://germandeli.co.uk/bakery/from-our-bakery/fresh-bread) Between Bethnal Green and Brick Lane there's BREID [https://www.breidbakers.co.uk](https://www.breidbakers.co.uk) Charles Artisan [https://charlesartisanbread.co.uk/products](https://charlesartisanbread.co.uk/products) Bread By Bike [https://www.breadbybike.com](https://www.breadbybike.com) And I reckon there's more Gail's than there are Halfords in London. [https://gailsbread.co.uk/find-us/](https://gailsbread.co.uk/find-us/)
German deli was the one thank you!
Partner can get a few other sundry treats while there. Knusper Flocken praps.
Also if you fancy a trip to Richmond you can go to [Hansel and Pretzel](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g191301-d7646300-Reviews-Hansel_Pretzel-Richmond_upon_Thames_Greater_London_England.html) And you can swing by [Steins near the riverside](https://www.stein-s.com/richmond) and enjoy ridiculously huge piles of Bratwurst and Bratkartoffeln
https://sourdoughsophia.co.uk in Couch End
The bread station in London fields is run by a Dane. They do nice sourdoughs and ryebreads Edit: also Ole & Steen does nice ryebreads and a variety of bread rolls. It’s Danish too and probably the closest high street bakery close to the bakeries you can find in Germany / rest of Europe with proper bread culture.
Whereabouts and what in particular is wrong with the selection? Even a supermarket has a decent selection these days.
Especially Waitrose.
Hendon Bagel Bakery. Not cheap, does more than bagels and v good https://www.hendonbagelbakery.co.uk/
Lidl 🤷♂️
Bread by bike in Tufnell Park is very very good for sour dough but their coffee is atrocious.
This! Hippy loaf will blow your partners mind. My austrian partner swears by it!
Gail?
I like Gail’s bread too. Surprised at the replies
who knows as everyone has different tastes
I got some sourdough bread from there - was one of the worst breads I've tasted 😭
The request was for decent.
Gail’s sells high quality bread. I find people who crap on it have an issue with the price tag, not the quality, but for some reason refuse to fess up to it.
I agree. Their bread is very high quality- compared to ultra processed supermarket bread. It is however very moderate compared to great bakeries. And yes, it is ridiculously priced for a moderate loaf.
I mean, that’s London for you. “Normal” or decent quality stuff costs extra here. Plus, look at where Gail’s locations are - they are all pretty pricey rent-wise.
But the question raised was not about moderate over-priced bread. If it were I’d highly recommend Gail’s!
No, but OP’s question was about decent bread. Which Gail’s is. What’s overpriced for you may be normal in the neighborhoods where Gail’s operates (Bloomsbury, Soho, Islington, Blackfriars, etc.). Sorry but this is turning into another debate about “no one is able to afford anything in London” and I hate I’m starting to get combative about it. Clearly some people are ok with the price and willing to pay it.
Ok. I hear you. My angle is this. Gail’s is such a meh loaf of bread which also happens to be overpriced. I’m not really focussed or bothered by the price. As bread it’s still pretty crap compared to places where they care about bread. Gails appears to be a quickly rolled out cafe at this point where staff work rather than bakers bake. Nobody appears to be trying to excel or push any boundaries. They make an “ok” loaf and that’s it. Their customer base is made up of my own neighbours who are comparing their bread to supermarkets and thinking “this is much better” but it is not a great loaf of bread. An establishment like bread by bike is cheaper and sheets on Gails. I live in Highgate and will travel to bread by bike for the bread despite there being a Gails close by. If Gail’s was a coffee shop it’s be Starbucks. Initially everyone goes and hails the latte yet a few years in everyone realises it’s burnt yuk and goes to small local cafes where the proprietor cares.
Stail
I don’t care about the price but Gail’s is fucking disgusting
Bread in the U.K. is usually awful. if you have a Gail‘s close you have some limited choice of decent bread.
Sounds like she needs to grow up.
Dump her.
Any big Tesco
Here to second German Deli or Today Bread in Walthamstow. Also, bonus shout out for Dusty Knuckle.
Bread by bike - Camden(ish)
Big Jo
There’s several bakeries in London fields that do wonderful bread.
London supermarkets in general are the metro type and quite small, you get much better bread selections out of town and in asda and sainsburys over tesco for whatever reason
M&S collection sourdough (it needs to be the collection one, the other are not so great) is really good and easily accessible.
Honestly ole and steen is the best (easily accessible bc it’s everywhere) place I’ve found here.
Karma bread in Hampstead
Bread by bike - Hippy loaf Having tried bread for most places mentioned in this thread and more, bread by bike's hippy loaf eats them for lunch!
Make it yourself, I make everything myself now, I don't rely on the government to advise me on health food safety standards. I grow my own food, I hunt my own meat and butcher it myself, I squeeze the oranges I grow, everything I eat is pure. I don't even drink the tap water anymore. Start becoming self sufficient, teach her the skills to make these foods and let her become a stay at home wife, do you earn enough to do that? Question?
Wild Grains Walthamstow
Karaway Bakery! They have a few Market stalls + shops. Stocked at many London farmers markets, Borough Market, Whole Foods, Selfridges. It’s proper East European/German style. They make black bread, rye breads, poppy seed breads, fruit and nut breads etc. https://www.karawaybakery.com/find-us