Chuang Sheng [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: Chuang Sheng Bakeshop (創盛號烘焙本舖) 

Address: No. 136, Xintai Road, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei

Website: https://bakery-5632.business.site

Style: Chinese

Price: $$  

This bakery recently opened when I visited it, so I don't know if the hype has died down or it's still as insane as it was when I showed up, but the hype is without a doubt for one item and one item only. As a matter of fact, if you wanted it, you had to line up outside and wait for it to come straight from the oven. What could possibly cause so much hysteria? Russian bread. Big, eye-shaped and brushed with butter. In some ways, it's just a loaf of (strangely semi-sweet) bread and there are many bakeries in Taipei and beyond that sell them, but even I was contemplating it when the worker carried out a steaming tray from the back and started basting the loaves right in the middle of the store. That is, until I saw the line. 

Instead, the butter crust bun (my name; $28) looked simple, yet appetizing. It somewhat resembled a pineapple bun, but this proved to be in concept alone, since the taste and texture were entirely different. The outer crust was almost a shortbread in that it was so decadent and buttery; it had great crunch. The bun underneath was less spectacular, but was definitely better than average: a light, fluffy sweet bread dough. Turns this bakery doesn't just make good Russian bread, after all.

 

Rating: ***