The cakes from Saldanhas

Dwarfed by the massive doors of a big jewellery shop, Saldanha House at 19, Nawab Abdur Rahman Street off Wellesly Road comes alive every Christmas Eve with hordes of unknown faces thronging the area looking for it. Known for its delicious cakes, the bakery, which operates out of the Saldanha home, was established in 1933. Having migrated from Goa in the early 1900s, the Saldanhas have been treating the people of Kolkata for over seven decades. Be it their rich plum or the walnut cake, macaroons or breads, all are baked in their traditional wooden oven with a 8220;formula8221; that has been perfected over a century. This year, the bakery have received over 70,000 orders of their special rich plum cakes.

8220;What makes our cakes special is that we use quality ingredients. The basic recipe for cakes may not be too different, but we try to add personal touches,8221; says octogenarian Denzel Saldanha. During Christmas, even youngest members of the family roll up their sleeves to dole out some of the best cakes in town.