Are you in knead of sourdough?

By Shaan Bajaj

I’ve always found it a challenge to find good, freshly-baked sourdough and other French baked goods in Bangkok, which I’m sure is a shared experience amongst the city’s urbanites. However, I recently called off the search after dining at Beyond Bread. Led by French Chef Guillaume Lansoy, the all-day dining spot specialises in quality-baked goods available for affordable prices. During my visit, Chef Guillaume informed me about the aim to create a café-cum-bakery that prioritises the freshness of homemade bread, fresh imported ingredients for authenticity, and food that people can enjoy at any time of the day. He also explains the importance of communicating his knowledge with his customers, to ensure everyone can enjoy the dining experience they are looking for.

First Impressions

As I walked into Beyond Bread, on Sukhumvit Soi 13, I was met with the heavenly aroma of freshly-baked bread. Although the café’s exterior is decorated using a neutral, black and white colour palette, the floor-to-ceiling windows soak the entire space in natural light, creating a welcoming atmosphere you would want from a modern café. The restaurant boasts marble countertops, wooden finishes and green elements that enhance the contemporary character of the café. Beyond this, one of the features I loved the most was their menu written on a chalkboard behind their cashier and pastry display, which I felt resembled café spaces I had been to abroad.

Whether you are opting to take away their goods or grab a seat to dine in, the attentive staff are always ready to take your order. For those who would like to buy their bread, you will be spoilt for choice with a range of sourdough options spanning their Regular sourdough (THB 160), Multigrain sourdough (THB 180) or the flavour of the day, which in the past have been Cheddar & walnut (THB 200) and Sundried tomato and olives (THB 200). Flavours are updated monthly!

On this occasion, we decided to dine in. The space is a good fit for grabbing brunch or lunch with a friend or even a quiet day of working away at your laptop. If you live close by, I would recommend their breakfast deal, Croissant and a coffee (THB 99) that is available between 7am and 9am. After a quick glance at the menu, I learn that the restaurant serves breakfast classics, salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers, and even pizza. Their drinks selection is also wide-ranging, encompassing coffee, non-coffee items, soft drinks, and wine. After browsing, I couldn’t wait to start tucking in.

Food and Drink

We began by sampling their Traditional baguette (THB 40) and Butter croissant (THB 70) while Chef Guillaume explains to us how both the flour and butter are imported from France to ensure authenticity in the creation of the bread. The butter croissant is handmade daily and has the perfect proportion of flakiness on the outside as soft and buttery on the inside. Similarly, the baguette was light and crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside, and I felt it paired really well with just butter.

However, if you prefer your bread with more toppings, I recommend you order their Avocado salsa bruschetta (THB 109). The dish comprises of a crisp slice of toasted ciabatta that is topped with buttery mashed avocado, and some coriander and cherry tomatoes to cut through the richness.

If you’re a fan of sweet things for breakfast, order their French toast with vanilla and chocolate panna cotta (THB 259), which was one of my favourites of the morning because every bite melted in my mouth. An elevated twist on the regular French toast, it is served with a creamy rich half-vanilla half-chocolate panna cotta and some berries that cut through the sweetness.

If you are dining later in the day for lunch or dinner, I strongly suggest ordering one of their pizzas to share. We sampled their Smoked salmon (THB 369), which comprises of a thin, crispy sourdough base, tangy tomato sauce, and lots of velvety cuts of salmon that had a smoky flavour to it. To top it all off, the pizza was also dressed with capers and rocket for freshness. For a recommended vegetarian variation, opt for the Mediterranean (THB 209) that is topped with lots of vegetables.

To conclude the meal, we tried the Carrot cake (THB 89) and although carrot cake was far from my favourite dessert before I tried this one, I really enjoyed it. The cake had a silky texture because of the rich buttercream, and the combination of raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon added a nice crunch and nutty flavour that made for a dessert that was not too sweet but still delicious.

Beyond just their food, we also tried their refreshing beverages including their Iced rose coffee (THB 140). The drink combines the strong rich taste of espresso with floral notes of rose, and is garnished with dried rose petals. Not only ideal for Thailand’s weather, it matched well with all of the food we sampled. For those who prefer their coffees more classic, the café brews everything from lattes to cappuccinos, Americanos, and more.

Masala Recommends

Taking the number one spot for me was the Caprese ciabatta (THB 129). A classic Italian dish, it comprises of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, basil, pesto, and balsamic vinegar, all on a bed of fresh ciabatta. The bread was so fluffy, while the combination of ingredients were super fresh. It was incredibly satisfying and a sandwich I would definitely go back for.

Beyond Bread

28 Soi Sukhumvit 13, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana Bangkok 10110

Open daily from 7am to 9pm

Tel: 092 276 6514

Facebook: @beyondbreadcafe

Instagram: @beyondbread_thailand