Granja Heidi

Posted by Edmund in Bakeries & Sweets, Other | 0 comments

Granja Heidi
Cuesta San Blas 525, Cusco, Peru
Less than 10 soles for a treat ($3.30).

Like I’ve noted in my restaurants section, I stayed in Cuzco in Peru for a few days during my time abroad. Unfortunately, Cuzco isn’t exactly the greatest place for foodies, especially if you’re in the mood for sweets. In fact, I didn’t really see much of a Peruvian dessert scene, except for some unique-flavored ice cream and a few gelatin-like or mousse-like Peruvian concoctions. However, Cuzco, being more of a cosmopolitan city due to all the traffic it receives from travelers on the way to Macchu Picchu, has a market specifically catered to foreigners, and I was lucky enough to stumble across quite a gem of a bakery.

Granja Heidi is a cheap eats bakery/restaurant that specializes in healthy (and even some organic) eating. If you’re surprised, join the club—I never thought I’d find a health-conscious eatery in Peru. Even more surprising, though, is that, for such a health-conscious place that supposedly uses only the freshest and best ingredients, it churns out some pretty awesome, fatty cakes (though, to be fair, they are lighter than what you’d find at most bakeries). Moreover, the value is great—huge portions for low prices. None of that $7.50 a slice stuff that you get in Los Angeles. Now that’s my type of bakery!

The place itself is kind of bare-bones. Located in a small little building in the center of Cuzco, it really is just a bunch of tables and chairs, with very minimal decoration and not even a splash of color to really make it look interesting.  It’s definitely not the place I’d recommend going to for the vibe. But the food really delivers for something so cheap. While it’s not a phenomenal bakery, it was probably the best I ran into in Peru, and I really have no problems recommending it for cake, crepes, and perhaps even for healthy eating, but I really didn’t check that cuisine out. Be sure to check out the renowned Nelson Mandela Chocolate Cake if you do end up here!

What I had:

1. Nelson Mandela Chocolate Cake: Soft, fluffy crust, like zucchini bread. The chocolate is flavorful, and it’s perfectly sweet with a great touch of liquor for an added kick. And it only costs $2. Amazing deal! 4.3/5.0
2. “Sweet Dreams” (Milk w/ cinnamon and banana. Like a smoothie): Fantastic combo of flavors. Hot, thick, and not too sweet or fruity. Like a fruity cappuccino. I never thought the flavors would mix, but they do have a nice synergy. It’s a little light—that is, the milk tends to overshadow other flavors. But it’s nice nonetheless. 3.0/5.0
3. Crepe of toffee: Delicious! Large crepes, with a thin layer of toffee inside, meaning there is no overflow. Topped off with powerded sugar all over, so there’s plenty of sweetness to the crepe, but b/c there’s just a thin layer of toffee, the sweetness is just right, not cloying. The crepe is also perfectly made—smooth, soft, and fluffy. Great combo. 3.5/5.0
4. Marilyn Monroe Cake (fruit and whipped cream cake): Very light. Just cake with tons of fruit and a fruity (passion fruit?) cream. Very plain and monotonous. Fruitiness is the only thing that saves it, since the cream is lacking in flavor. And the cake part contributes almost nothing, though it’s not horrible. 1.5/5.0

Ambience: 1.2/5.0 (though ambience isn’t all that important for a place like this)
Taste: 3.5/5.0
Value: 4.5/5.0
Overall Score: 3.5/5.0