There’s something about the Natural Tucker Bakery that makes you feel so damn wholesome. Firstly, they bake bread of substance: good quality, dense sourdough loaves like light and dark rye, fruit loaf and multigrain. There’s also interesting daily specials like the excellent pumpkin loaf (Wednesdays) topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds.
The bakery/cafe also does a steady lunch trade in simple sandwiches, salads and baked goodies. The small space fits only a few tables inside and out. Although it’s more functional than fancy, there’s something comforting about the no frills decor with its earthy, terracotta tiled floor and community noticeboard offering classes in French, fiddle playing and feldenkrais.
Standouts are the hearty and flavoursome soups in combinations like broccoli and kale or corn and leek that are packed with veggies. A wedge of tandoori chicken pie is light on the chicken but heavy on the sweet potato and lentils, with a lovely twist of lime.
The bakery’s sweet options – many of which are vegan friendly – are the kind of home style treats that would go down well with a cup of tea. The vegan date scones are definitely worth getting off your bike for (a better choice than the too floury cheese scones). These beauties, made with nuttlex, have a wonderful, dense and crumbly texture. Arrive in the morning and they’ll be warm from the oven.
Service is friendly (must be the organic flour and high vegetable intake) and staff are always efficient at moving the lunch queues through.