The Upper Crust: A taste of Paris in Karachi

The Upper Crust is tastefully decorated, with spectacular bakery shelves loaded with freshly baked aromatic goodies.

I recently spent a great Sunday afternoon shooting sumptuous food, and tasting it at The Upper Crust. Located in the prestigious area of  Zamzama, this patisserie is a true treat for Karachiites and food lovers.

Owner Hamid Ali Khan had invited me over to conduct a photoshoot at the bakery, and was generous enough to present us with a range of goodies to taste as we worked. Loaded with our heavy cameras, my partner and I clicked away at the mouth-watering food on offer.

The Upper Crust has a tastefully decorated seating area with spectacular bakery shelves heaped with freshly baked goodies that include cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. I personally recommend the strawberry gelato; it is truly the creamiest, most delicious gelato I have ever had.

Moreover, the café serves a truly unique and world-class selection of sandwiches and burgers; it was quite an experience tasting them. Their distinct flavour can be credited to the fresh produce that comes from Hamids' personal farm in Malir, and his home garden in which he grows herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. The selection of bread is also excellent - since Hamid is also a flour mill owner, he can do wonders in creating the treats the bakery offers.

Then, there were the different scents of heavenly goodies that whetted my appetite; there was the smell of vanilla, not just the essence, but actual vanilla pods shipped directly from Madagascar; the mouth-watering scent of freshly-baked plain, wholewheat, and multi-grain loaves of bread, baguettes, buns, and croissants; the aroma of freshly brewed coffee imported from Cicely - all this added to the lovely ambiance of the place. If I were to dine there, I am sure I would be tempted to try a bite of everything. Normally, I would be concerned that this would put a heavy dent in my wallet, but The Upper Crust is very affordable.

Hamid is a highly qualified person with a Masters degree in Food Technology from the University of London. Moreover, he has a degree in Chocolate Studies from the Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Singapore . The unique environment of the café definitely reflects that he was trained by Alain Ducasse - a six star chef of Paris at Le’ Ecole de Causin.

I definitely enjoyed the food he had to offer; his passion shone through in the carefully prepared and tasteful cuisine. The Upper Crust has great potential and I highly recommend it to people looking for something unique. It is a true Paris-style patisserie.

This post originally appeared here. 

Correction: An earlier version of this blog carried the incorrect spelling of Callebaut Chocolate Academy.