At the helm of Slovenia’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants-listed venue Hiša Franko, Ana Roš is cooking up a bubbling gastronomic reputation for her home country. Continuing the restaurant’s philosophy, which champions local ingredients, Roš has teamed up with some of Slovenia’s star bakers and pastry chefs to open Pekarna Ana in Ljubljana. From baguettes to cruffins and croissants, here’s what to expect from the Slovenian chef’s new bakehouse
Sourdough loaves
Prior to working at Pekarna Ana, Nataša Đurić was making bread at Hiša Franko
Reuniting with the former head-baker from Hiša Franko, Roš has joined forces with Nataša Đurić for Pekarna Ana’s sourdough, which will be at the crusty heart of the bakery. On offer is a range of boules and baguettes, with bubbled interiors enhanced by that unmistakable sourdough lactic tang. It will be the same quality of bread featured at Roš’ main restaurant, such as its flaxseed sourdough with cultured lovage butter.
Cruffins
Pekarna Ana has become the newest venue in Ljubljana to sell the cruffin
Created in Australia in 2013 before becoming a popular item at patisseries (and on Instagram feeds) across the world, these bakes will be filled with chocolate and nuts, and a Slovenian touch. Using native local ingredients such as honey, salt and buckwheat, Pekarna Ana’s cruffin pays tribute to its surrounding area, offering a vision of the globetrotting pastry made a little closer to home.
Croissants, pain au chocolat and other classics
Anže Kranjec, who trained in Paris, makes all of the classic pastries using traditional French technique
Alongside modern bakes, the new bakery also offers a full range of classic French viennoiserie. Mastering layers of butter and leavened dough, its croissants and pain au chocolat boast impressively intricate lamination from the hands of Anže Kranjec, who Roš describes as the best in the field.
Savoury bakes
Kranjec (left) and Đurić are considered the best in their fields by Roš
Sweet treats are not the only focus here, as savoury items are also available at the shop’s counter. Items such as its sausage and kimchi pastry, which marry together Roš’ creativity with the masterful skill of Đurić and Kranjec, have been an immediate success, with the bakery selling out within its first two hours on opening day.
Cookies
The cookies, alongside all offerings at Pekarna Ana, are made using local ingredients where possible
A range of cookies is also available to grab and go alongside freshly brewed coffee. Perfectly circular, soft in the middle with a crunchy exterior, Pekarna Ana’s chocolate chip cookie drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with peanuts has been an instantly successful take on the classic snack.
The list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2022, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, was announced on Monday 18th July at a live awards ceremony in London. To stay up to date with the latest news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
