Margot Bakery, East Finchley

I wanted to take a moment to talk about one of my favourite London bakeries, Margot Bakery in East Finchley.

I’m lucky enough to live over the road from this wonderful little bakery and cafe, and usually pop in to see what’s new at least once a week. Of course, the great thing about a small independent bakery is that there’s always something exciting and new to taste.

Based in an old sub Post Office, the bakery manages to squeeze in a tiny cafe area selling coffee, tea and sometimes a small selection of other local and craft food items. But if you want a seat, you’ll have to arrive early, especially at weekends, as Margot is hugely popular with the local community.

Margot bake everything on site, using exclusively naturally leavened sourdough recipes. That includes everything from their range of freshly baked loaves to pastries, babka, cookies and more. And while the range isn’t huge, there’s always at least a couple of savoury and sweet items to choose from.

I have to confess, it’s the sweet pastries that grab my attention. While I do buy the occasional loaf and savoury pastry, it’s offerings like the cherry custard danish and chocolate and hazelnut brioche that get me most excited.

Bakery owner Michelle Eshkeri has quickly made a name for herself in the food world, and these days the bakery attracts visitors from around the world, as well as serving as a popular community hub for locals.

Earlier this year, Michelle published her first book, Modern Sourdough, which has received rave reviews. The book is packed with recipes and will guide you through the entire process. There’s a great introduction to sourdough principles, including a section guiding you through the process of creating a sourdough starter. I’m planning on having a go myself soon, but with such a great local bakery on my doorstep, I’ve already got an endless supply of amazing baked goods to try!

Here’s a small taste of some of my recent purchases.