Pondicherry Best of Baking

The archaic, flour-dusted, open kitchen (guests are welcome to look around quietly) bustles with friendly chatter as Aurovillians and local staff hectically bake the fluffiest, tastiest, eminently affordable croissants, breads, quiches, pastries and baguettes at La Boulangerie (on the road to Auroville, off the East Coast Road official timings are 7am-5pm, but the madly busy and always friendly manager Elumalai says they serve customers from 630 am and don&rsquot close until past 6pm, especially if &ldquopeople are still coming&rdquo). You can&rsquot go wrong with their Mediterranean quiche (olives, bell peppers and organic soya milk) and mushroom quiche. The pain au chocolat, filled with thick chocolate, is the first among equals and the cheese baguette is flaky-soft. I particularly loved the raisin croissant and the sugar-sprinkled sacristin they taste best when they&rsquore still warm.