Who knew that there was an art collective hidden behind the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)? I certainly didn’t. The reason I’m mentioning this art collective is because I stumbled upon it while searching for Tommy Le Baker.
Tommy le Baker is a quaint little hipster haven of a bakery specializing in sourdough bread. It’s hidden in a courtyard of the Zhongshan Building in Kampung Attap, which is the area just opposite the Maharajalela monorail station. In order to access the bakery, you’ll have to walk through a little art shop/display gallery called Naiise.
The bakery is closely tied to the art and activism that goes on at the Zhongshan building. Often times, the bakery courtyard would form part of the fabric of an art event. It was a quiet day when I visited, which was awesome. The minimalist courtyard was decked out in soothing white with tables scattered around some central trees.
The bakery occupied one side of the courtyard. There’s a pretty simple menu posted just beside the cashier where you place your order. There are sourdough bread sandwiches, Tartines, toasts and some light sweet treats like Financiers and Madeleines. The selection here is definitely French and very authentic, I might add.
For drinks, they offer a whole range of coffee, chocolate drinks and bottled juices (which you can pick up from their fridge). I ordered their chicken liver pate tartine, a set of three financiers and an egg mayo and Dijon mustard sandwich.
The sourdough bread here is made with dough that’s fermented and the taste is vastly different from regular bread. For a first timer, sourdough bread takes a bit of getting used to because there’s this slight fermented alcoholic tint to its flavour. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the chicken liver tartine (RM16.80). It was rich with a pate made with fresh chicken liver; none of that instant canned stuff.
The egg mayo sandwich (RM 15.80) had a milder taste and is suitable for a light meal or for vegetarians. Apart from egg mayo, you can also choose to have your sandwiches with camembert or brie soft cheese, ribeye steak, smoked salmon or oven braised chicken. Tartines can be had with smoked salmon, mozzarella and tomato, cheddar cheese melt, French Blue Cheese, garlic and herbs cream cheese, Cheddar cheese melt or Chauvre Chaud goat’s cheese.
There are also toasts that will be served with butter and jam, butter and Nutella or butter and brown sugar. Alternatively, you can have it with a cheese platter.
The part I actually love most about my experience were the Financiers (RM10 for three). These are actually little spongy French cakes similar to Madeleines. Financiers are made with browned butter, as opposed to Madeleines which are made with regular butter. The Financiers here were not too sweet and really great for those who want to cut down on too much sugar.
Tommy le Baker is a really relaxing hangout spot in the heart of busy KL. It is especially suitable for art lovers who will also enjoy all the little artisanal knick-knacks at Naiise. The al-fresco and slow paced dining environment can really be uplifting, especially after a long week of slogging at work.
- Address: 82, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50460.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 12:00 PM - 2:00 AM, Closed on Mondays
