Bakery:
Kaffihús Bakarans
Address:
Hafnarstræti 14, Ísafjörður
Website: n/a
Style: Icelandic
Price: $
It can be fair to say that my trip to the Westfjords and to its "capital" Ísafjörður was a miserable one, from the horrendous weather to the constant impression that the small group I was with thoroughly disliked me (and much as I try, my impressions are usually right...). Even the overnight stay at a nearby guesthouse was strangely unpleasant, despite the comfy bed, but the scenery was spectacular and the bakeries came like beacons of hope. Coming in from the rain into Bakarans and seeing a warm cafe literally filled with baked goods was almost like a mirage; you couldn't believe it was real! :D
That being said, I can't remember the last time I walked into an Icelandic bakery and saw so many baked goods! More often than not, the shelves are a little empty or selection limited to the basic classics; this place was heaping with sweets: several varieties of cinnamon buns, danishes, doughnuts, long danishes. They were in the display cases, piled on top on places -- it was beautiful! *-* Not to mention the fact that it was really well priced; when was the last time I went anywhere in Iceland and most baked goods cost under 300kr? Wow!
It took a long time to decide (and doubtless that aforementioned group was getting annoyed with me), but I finally settled for the cinnamon twist (265kr; and yes, they had others): fresh, fluffy yeast dough knotted and rolled to make four little cinnamon rolls in one. This was then drizzled with vanilla and caramel icing. Great amount of cinnamon that you could taste with every bite; good dough, but definitely something that has to be eaten within a few hours of purchase to really enjoy. If not fresh, it certainly would not have tasted so great.
A great bakery... I'm only sad that I didn't have the freedom or time (it was Sunday and the other one was closed) to do the other one in town. :(
Rating: ***1/2
Bakery:
Verslunin Albína
Address:
Aðalstræti 89, Patreksfirði
Website: n/a
Style: Icelandic
Price: $$
I always feel like a new part of Iceland needs to be discovered with each successive trip; this time, I finally went to the Westfjords. I had been dreaming and hoping for years and I at last had the chance to see one of the most beautiful parts of the country... and visit a few bakeries while I was at it. ;) There are, essentially, very few towns in the Westfjords, but the two "larger" centres both happened to have what I was after. The first review is coming from the small town of Patreksfjörður. I actually knew about this place a few weeks in advance; I spotted a plastic bag in the guesthouse trash can and the word "bakarí" and the little map captivated me. I absolutely had to go to this place! And I did. ^^
Albína is a mini supermarket in a somewhat bleak white building and probably the only real food store for a while; they have a bit of everything, from coffee to hot dogs to groceries to... baked goods! Yes, sandwiched in one corner next to the cash is a display case of classic Icelandic baked goods, savoury (like the cheese bun above) and sweet: from kleinur, Icelandic doughnuts, to cinnamon buns to danishes. After a miserable night outside or a long drive, this is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. ;) ((Sadly, no one in my small group thought so; I was the only one who bought anything from the bakery. *sighs* Bakery haters....))
I took the cinnamon "snail" (350kr). This cinnamon bun was what I would call more "Danish-style" and rarely found in Icelandic bakeries; that is, the dough is not a fluffy and bready, but flaky like... danishes. This one was a little too brittle and browned on the perimeter, but once I peeled off the outer ring, it was the perfect combination of flaky dough on the top and bottom and soft dough on the inside. Only the complete centre had enough cinnamon for my taste, but nonetheless it was a very good treat (and I loved the caramel icing!) to enjoy on an absolutely stunning drive!
Rating: ***
