Paul Bakery & Cafe is a small and compact cafe in Krabi that stands out in the form of homemade bakery. I made my way there on a sunny mid-week morning, accompanied by my colleagues from Fantasia Asia travel service’s office.  Entering Paul Bakery & Cafe is a treat in itself. The interior of the shop is decorated in a very cute way: it sports a French ambience, with signature black-dominant minimalistic style eminent throughout the café, paraphernalia exposed on the walls and dried lavender bunches hanging from a high ceiling. With its variety of corners to sit at, Paul Bakery & Cafe is inviting, simple yet trendy, rustic yet modern. A cool atmosphere, nice soft music and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee complete the job.  But the forte at Paul Bakery & Cafe is its delicious French pastries and cakes. Dessert fans should not miss the wide variety of cakes: cheesecakes, mousse cakes, fruit cakes, tarts, fresh cream, brownies, and many more. Traditional European patisserie recipes are matched with new recipes that are developed to cater to all palates. Paul brings creativity into everything he bakes, and that, in my opinion, is the key to his success.  Paul’s array of baked goods ranges from buttery, flaky croissants and cinnamon rolls, to custardy canelés and sweet macarons. Apart from the usual suspects in the bakery and cakes menu, Paul creation and experimental recipes are different every day as he aims at giving his clients an always unique experience.  Back to my breakfast, both coffee and croissant finally reached my table, the croissant being served with fork and spoon and a blackcurrant jam. Having Italian origins, I immediately moved away fork and spoon, ignored the good-looking blackcurrant jam on the plate, grabbed the croissant and gave it a big bite… the Italian way! Let me tell you this is one of the closest croissant to European standards I have ever tasted in Asia. During a chat to Paul, I discovered that he supplies Amazon Coffee and other important establishments in town and beyond. Paul’s history dates back to his 20s, when he lived in several European countries as a youngster. Back in Thailand, he learned the tricks of bakery in Bangkok.  Asides from making delicious pastries, Paul Bakery & Cafe also specializes in a café menu which includes all sorts of coffee, smoothies and teas. Paul upholds his high standard using the best sourced ingredients, like what they use in Europe. It is his dedication as well as his attention to details that are pushing Paul Bakery & Cafe towards one of the best bakeries you can find in Krabi. PAUL BAKERY & CAFÉ Paul Bakery & Cafe opens daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to reserve a table or enquire about special menus can contact Paul at 095 2622352 by phone or Line. FB:  https://www.facebook.com/Paul-Bakery-Cafe-at-Krabi-449455049195914/ Google Maps: 238/5 ถ.มหาราช ต.ปากน้ำ อ.เมือง Krabi, Thailand 81000 

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A coffee and bakery haven in the heart of Chulia Street – Traveling is an art, a passion, a commitment and an enjoyment. Yet, traveling is tiring at times, and travelers need their moments of peace and familiarity that a few places provide while ‘on the road’. One of these places has to be The Mugshot Café & Rainforest Bakery. The brainchild of friendly old-time mates Tristan and Jesse, this is the place to come to when craving proper coffee and bakery products. Located in an old traditional heritage Chinese shop-house in the heart of Unesco endorsed Penang’s Georgetown, the Mugshot features an artistic deco with giant blackboards on walls where menu items are chalked up, tables, chairs and the bar are made from recycled pallet wood, and food is cooked in an open kitchen and sports a black wood-fire oven. You may be surprised to hear that the main products at The Mugshot Café are bagels – that’s right! A popular bread option in some European countries, bagels were little known in Penang but are quickly hitting the local population and travelers alike. Round-shaped and with a hole in the middle, bagels are baked, topped with poppy seeds, heated up in the wood-fire oven until brown and crisp, and filled with a variety of creamy cheese, salmon, eggs or meat. I tried the one with corned beef with rocket and discovered a flavor long forgotten by my taste buds. Yummy! The one filled with turkey and cranberries is also a popular choice. Aside from the signature bagels, home-made thick and creamy yogurts are served in glass jars with a choice of delicious topping like fruits, syrups and nuts, a complete meal in themselves. Croissants, muffins, brownies and more products from the bakery complete the excellent choice of food in the menu. Last but not least, the range of coffees is extensive, and their taste is so proper thanks to the owner’s choice of great, locally-roasted coffee beans from a reputable producer. The funky music playing by the café’s loudspeakers completes the job and makes the place so popular that you often have to wait for a table! So what’s the story behind The Mugshot Café? Tristan and Jesse spare a few minutes to tell us of their years in Europe, of Jesse’s quest to find the perfect bakery there, of his dedication during the time spent working at an extremely popular London organic bakery and of his subsequent search for products variations in Paris and parts of Italy; and also of Tristan passion for coffee and his path to become a proper ‘barista’. They surely returned to their hometown Penang with plenty of skills and ideas that eventually converged in the opening, 4 months ago, of this great eatery. We congratulated Jesse and Tristan and sat on the outdoor seating area, sipping a strong coffee and watching the bustling Chulia Street scene; The Mugshot Café is indeed one of these ‘on the road’ treats that we so strongly need at times. Thumbs up! The Mugshot Café – 302 Chulia Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia Tel：012 4056276 – Facebook: The Mugshot Cafe – Business Hours：9am – 9pm

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