There is something sublime about a breakfast of brun maska (warm bread with butter) and tea.

It ranks as one of my favorite breakfasts and the definitive version of this is served over at Yazdani Bakery in Fort, Mumbai. The brun is a crusty, round shaped bread, which demands a deft hand to be made, otherwise it can become hard as rock. Yazdani's Brun is a perfect balance of texture, fresh out of the oven. The crust is firm but delicate, giving way to the soft white bread in the middle which is held together by the thin crust of the base.

The whole bun is sliced and slathered with butter and served with the ubiquitous sweet Irani chai. Dunking the brun into the steaming chai is the perfect way to start the day or to take a break.

This old bakery is housed in a beautiful heritage building which used to be a Japanese Bank around the time of World War I. The striking red and teal colored facade of the building clearly shows the Japanese influence, but the interior is that of a classic Irani cafe staple of wooden benches and long tables.

Yazdani Bakery is run by Parvez Irani and his sons, Zairost and Tirandas. The bakery was set up in 1950 by Parvez's father Merwan Zend and has been baking bread for South Bombay ever since. According to Parvez, the most popular product they sell is the Pav, a simple soft white bread resembling a dinner roll, but they are also known for other baked goods such as mawa cake, apple pie, sandwich bread and biscuits.

Yazdani is still an old-style bakery which relies on the hardship of the bakers and the wood fired oven in which all their products are made. The difference in quality is evident and Yazdani enjoys immense popularity even today: its bread is delivered to countless households in the area and the bakery is buzzing throughout the day with people stopping by to enjoy a cup of tea and some good bread.