JoVan The Dutch Baker
Address: 37 Angel Kunchev Str, Sofia
Tel: 985 30 65
Open: Mon to Sat 7.30 to 20.00, Sun 7.30-15.00

A rambling walk with a friend and his bike led us to a pretty bakery. We wanted to get something to eat, perhaps an ice cream or something else - we had no clear plans - so when we stumbled across JoVan the Dutch Baker, we decided to give it a try.

Honestly, I have walked down Angel Kunchev, the street it is on, numerous times, but apparently have never paid enough attention. Another reason could be the bakery's humble outside appearance - right on the pavement in the ground floor of one of the old communist-era apartment buildings, only its green shade and the aroma of bread gives it away.

Inside, it looks just like an ordinary European bakery, at least according to the Bulgarian understanding of that idea. I remember the real Dutch bakeries on my last trip to Amsterdam, with their beautifully arranged window screens, and alluring and vast assortment of goods, more than you could ever hope to eat.

Here the Dutch bakery does not have that excessiveness, but still it has some playful ornaments to attract your attention - rather more modest in appearance, but it's what's inside that counts.

Once you enter, you're immediately welcomed with a huge smile by the lady at the counter, who, along with selling products, is very busy restocking the shelves, as products disappear at an alarming rate. Not only does she makes you feel comfortable, but she is also rather fast, and speed is of the essence in this place: people are constantly coming and carrying away different styles of loaves of bread, others choose from the whole pizzas or cakes offered, and still others, like me, just prefer to get a delicious little piece.

If you are not too hungry, but still crave for something sweet, you can just grab a small, individually sold cookie called a valentinka (20 stotinki each) or a chocolate croissant (90 stotinki), which, according to my friend, "will change your life forever". The bread part is absolutely delicious, sprinkled lightly with just enough powdered sugar and delightfully fresh and flaky, but above all else, they use real chocolate instead of some hazelnut-hydrogenated vegetable oil cream, and the difference makes you wonder why those pre-packaged things are even allowed to exist. If you prefer something unconventional, I can whole-heartedly recommend you a cake with carrots. I know, it sounds shocking at first - at least to all my friends, who expressed doubt about the quality of the cake - but I can vote for it with both of my thumbs up! It is sweet, tender and the taste it leaves in your mouth is only of mild cinnamon and nuts, despite clearly seeing all the grated carrots.

If you are bored with the conventional and mediocre breads offered in most of the supermarket chains, or just foresee a total shift in your bread consumption paradigm, you may need to visit the Dutch bakery. Needless to say that everything is handmade, it is, moreover, fresh and warm, just taken out of the oven.

Do not expect, however, to find a place to hang out in. JoVan itself is tiny and there is hardly any room to move around. There are two bar stool-like chairs that offer seating for those wishing to enjoy their spoils on the spot, but it's mostly just a place to come and buy the best bread and sweets in Sofia.

On the other hand, if you manage to sit in, you will have difficulties in listening to your company or to your thoughts from time to time. The nice lady at the counter is very talkative and uses every opportunity to chat with the rest of the staff that remain out of the customer's sight. In situations like these, she has to use her pretty loud voice and thus makes the place rather noisy. But, again, it is a bakery for buying things rather than eating.

On another bright side, JoVan is centrally located, almost on the corner of Angel Kunchev Street with Patriarch Evtimii Boulevard. The easily accessible locale, the rather vast range of tasty goods and the friendly shop assistant draw me back to this cute and very Dutch place in the heart of the Bulgarian capital.