Not just a bakery

bkry, one of Alserkal Avenue’s newest residents, goes beyond the cookie cutter approach by thoughtfully combining craftsmanship and artistic innovation with responsibly sourced ingredients.

From classic Arabic sweets such as Khanfaroosh – a doughnut and sponge cake packed in one – to melt-in-the-mouth macarons, buttery shortbreads and fluffy croissants, the UAE offers something for every dessert lover. Small wonder that the UAE sweets and snacks market is expected to growth at a 3.6% CAGR between 2024 and 2030.

The market is certainly growing. Asked for a rough count of bakeries and pastry shops across the Emirates, ChatGPT said, “The UAE boasts a flourishing bakery scene with numerous artisanal, local and international bakeries spread across the city. While an exact number of bakeries is not easily pinpointed, there are hundreds of bakeries ranging from small artisanal shops to larger chains.”

Indeed, there are “hundreds of bakeries,” and they are grabbing the eyeballs of global authorities such as La Liste whose 2024 ranking of World’s Best Pastry Shops list includes several of these concepts, bkry being one of them.

Out-of-the-bun thinking

In a landscape that’s filled with bakeries and pastry shops, bkry stands out as a space where experimentation is encouraged, ingredients are respected.

“bkry stands out by emphasising high-quality ingredients partnered with my curiosity about fermentation and in-house chocolate making, which I believe creates a distinct difference compared to other bakeries,” shared Co-Founder & Head Chef, Kameel Rasyid Eril.

Unique creations such as croissants made with Tanzanian milk chocolate or caramelised miso paste, macadamia coffee spread and lavender jam, among others truly push the boundaries of creativity.

One can’t help wondering if such flavour combinations are created purely instinctively or based on customer preference around what’s trending.

“As a chef, working on flavour combinations is a blend of instinct, customer preferences and current trends,” Eril observed. “I rely on my culinary instincts and experience to create balanced and innovative flavours, while also considering customer feedback and trending ingredients to ensure our offerings resonate with the market.”

What’s more, staying true to its core values of operating ethically, bkry partners with Wildfarmed Flour and Kokoa Kamili to support sustainable and ethical farming practices. “In addition, we work with a local farm in the UAE from where we source our honey, and we do our best to create minimal waste in our kitchen,” Eril added.

Been busy baking

Having been open for a few months, bkry has already attracted Dubai’s royalty. The venue was reportedly visited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.

“Since opening, we’ve been blessed with a busy venue every day,” Eril stated. Weekends are the busiest for bkry with guests queuing up to experience the bake space. “It has been a challenge keeping up with the number of guests we welcome through our doors each day, but it’s a challenge we are happy to take on. We are dedicated to serving our guests the very best and we are thrilled with our progress so far, and excited for what’s yet to come.”

At a time when homegrown food businesses are sought after, asked how he stays on top of the game, here’s what Eril said, “We focus on maintaining exceptional quality when it comes to our food. We don’t compromise on our ingredients, and we are committed to our values of being a truly artisanal bake space where we are innovators in our own kitchen, making our own butter, jams, spreads, fermentations, bread, flour etc. This is what we are remembered for. In addition, we focus on offering unique and personalised experiences while engaging with our community, and consistently innovating our products and services.”