"Prakash Bakers" the favourites of the young and the old in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, Mar 10 : The traditional fried delicacies, which no Punjabi could resist have lost out! The young and the old have now switched their yearning for baked food products like cakes, cookies and buns.

The trend, however, has triggered the demand for a string of bakery shops in the cities to meet the rising demand.

Bakers like the Prakash Bakery in Model Town are the most happening places. It is where most youngsters frequent to enjoy pastry, pizza slices or Kathi rolls with glass of juice.

Started way back in 1960s by the late Pratap Singh, Prakash Bakery now makes an array of items, including a variety of sandwiches, pizzas, cakes and burgers.

Most of the preparations cater to the non-residents Punjabis frequently visiting the shop.

"A large number of non-residents come here regularly and request us for the latest. It gives us an opportunity to go in for new items. The NRIs, sometimes, bring cookery books and ask for a particular cake and others bakery products. We work hard to fulfill their requests. By creating new products, we have acquired such fame. With media awareness, residents have also started demanding various bakery products," said Jaswant Singh, MD, Prakash Bakers.

The bakery makes cakes and pastries in a variety of preparations, including butterscotch, mixed fruit, cappuccino and mocha cakes.

The others like rum cakes, pineapple cake and black forest cake are also available, though in different patterns of icing suiting the occasion, a birthday party, an anniversary, or Christmas or even Valentine's Day.

Even the dry cakes come in a wide range of flavours, including those with cinnamon and cardamom flavours.

"People have started ignoring all fried foods, and instead prefer bakery products, many of which are made under hygienic conditions. So, their fascination is towards bakery products," said Dr. Chopra, a customer.

The bakery caters to the needs of all kinds of customers, including vegetarians and non-vegetarians. By Ravinder

ANI