Bangkok Baking Company (BBCO) is an oasis of light and flavour for assiduous Bangkok urbanites.

By Aiden Jewelle Gonzales

After its renovation last year, the Bangkok Baking Company (BBCO) has let go of its traditional mien and emerged with a more contemporary edge, perfect for the bustling Nana locale that houses the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok. Featuring industrial fittings, comfortable wicker-backed seating, and wallpaper that emulates chalk drawn on slate boards, the bakery and all day dining restaurant is a metropolitan dream of both easy dining and urbane chic. The fl oor to-ceiling windows flood light into the welcoming space, while the eye – and nose – are immediately drawn to the array of home-baked breads and pastries on proud display in the centre of the room. A mix of pendant crystal lights above the counters add a touch of whimsy amongst the large industrial lighting fixtures.

Popular with weekend brunchers, a newer al fresco dining area is especially inviting with its brick-red umbrellas and warm grey seating. The verdant surroundings provide the ideal haven away from the city’s bustle just a stone’s throw away.

Food and Drink

With their focus on serving the busy urbanites outside its doors, BBCO has perfected its menu with on-the-go items such as sandwiches and burgers, as well as pastries overseen by Executive Pastry Chef Chotiphat Laisuwan, of Iron Chef Thailand fame. However, for those wishing to take a break from their frenetic schedules, BBCO also provides ample culinary delights from their British, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian chefs. Dedicated to top-notch quality and ingredients, all pastries and cakes are made fresh daily, with the price cut to 50 percent after 6pm for ready-to-go food and pastries, and after 7pm for cakes.

We began with the Avocado toast (THB 300) from their all-day breakfast menu, a masterpiece of flavour in the form of sourdough bruschetta, feta, and cashew dukkah for a Middle-Eastern twist. My favourite aspect was breaking apart the perfectly poached eggs on top of the bruschetta for that extra-indulgent mouthful. For the mains, I highly recommend the Fettuccine bolognese (THB 410) with a side of aromatic garlic bread; a classic staple with a savoury meat sauce so rich, each bite makes it clear why this dish is considered an exemplar of comfort food.

Next, we were swept away from the Italian peninsula to the sultry heat of South Asia with the innovatively-presented Chicken tikka romali flat bread (THB 380) which, as its name suggests, is served on top of flat bread so we could see each of the dish’s colourful elements; a deconstruction that tempted all the senses. Cucumber raita and mint off set the punch of flavour from the chicken, elevating the whole into a toothsome treat. The BBCO tom gai prik daam (THB 240) is the pride and joy of the restaurant, and deservedly so. Formerly a recipe lost to the annals of time, this spicy chicken soup was painstakingly reconstructed by Executive Chef Kevin B. Thomson and his team, to delectable effect.

Finally, for those who wish to make the most of their lunch hour by trying an assortment of dishes, BBCO has a range of set lunches for THB 200 nett. I definitely recommend the Tom yum seafood, Thai omelette, and sautéed mixed vegetables; all cooked to perfection and capturing a variety of iconic and uniquely Thai tastes in a single set.

BBCO has a selection of curated drinks, from classic teas and coffees to locally-inspired beverages that capture the Thai tropics in every sip, such as the perennially popular Butterfly pea (THB 190). However, a vanguard of the establishment are their smoothies blended from fresh fruit, ripe with flavour and possibilities. The Passion mango (THB 190) is a sweet delight, with the richness of the fresh mango, yoghurt, and strawberry syrup balanced by the hit of zest from the passion fruit. Try the Orange melon (THB 190), a vibrant mix of fresh orange, fresh melon, and green apple for that injection of vim and verve we all need in the middle of the day.

BANGKOK BAKING COMPANY (BBCO)
First floor, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, Khlong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Open daily from 6am to 10.30pm
Tel: 02 656 7700
www.jwmarriottbangkok.com/dining/bbco/