As the weather turns chilly and the holiday season lights up the rest of the year, the new Bix Bakery & Café is a lovely, casual place to entertain friends and family this season, where you can gather and catch up, exchange gifts and reconnect over fresh and flavorful sandwiches and salads or indulge in beautiful desserts and coffees.
Meet Bix Bakery & Cafe
Lavanya Mahate has been introducing Utahns to global flavors for years now. First, she shared her heritage from Chennai, India with an introduction to Indian food via the five locations of Saffron Valley spread across the valley. Today, having recently sold the two locations of Biscotts, Mahate has reimagined Bix Bakery & Café to serve up the comforts of a British bakery café and coffee shop on the edge of Sugar House.
So what does Bix stand for? Well, explains Mahate, “bix is actually short for bites or cookies in Australian. Like a nickname for biscuits. It’s a very British Australian kind of a term.”
The new endeavor is to the west of the Saffron Valley location on 2100 S. in this newly revitalized vibrant neighborhood. The location has ample parking, making it easy to run in for a quick morning bite or coffee to go on the way to the office or after school drop offs.
The bright and warm interior of the café allows comfortable browsing of the fully-stocked pastry case with desserts ranging from the Nutella éclair filled with hazelnut praline and glazed with chocolate butter cream to the ganache dipped chocolate almond Swiss roll filled with almond butter cream between a bouncy chocolate sponge. You’ll also find plenty of cookies and a lemon pound cake loaf in addition to many other delights.
A sunny patio in front and a secluded shaded space in the back will be welcoming spots during the outdoor seasons.
Coffee Fun
One of the most engaging experiences at Bix is something that Mahate saw as a popular draw in Japan. You can print a custom image (your photo, a logo, or other funny image) onto any coffee or hot drink that features foam. Scan the QR code at the register, upload a photo or take a selfie and within minutes you’ll be served a steaming hot beverage featuring you!
Give it a try using the code “BixPix” to get a free photo printed on your foamed coffee drink.
Plenty of other coffee, chai, tea items are available as well.
Afternoon Tea
Bringing a bit of European tradition to Sugar House, afternoon tea is served at Bix on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. For just $16, enjoy a scone, choice of a sweet confection (a macaron or a lovely cake slice), two cookies, one finger sandwich (a comforting ham and cheese will warm you up) and your choice of beverage. It’s a great way to give lots of options at Bix a try in one sitting and feel a little bit European for an afternoon.
Smoothies and Refreshers
If you need a non-caffeinated afternoon pick-me-up, drop in for a fruit-forward smoothie or sparkling refresher. Crafted using fresh fruits and juices, these beverages provide a burst of vibrant flavors that are light and refreshing. Whether you’re in the mood for a green belt smoothie with spinach and mango or a tropical pineapple bliss refresher infused with pineapple, vanilla and coconut, Bix has perfected the art of balancing taste and healthy hydration.
Healthy Bites at Bix Bakery
Mahate is a vegetarian so you know you’ll find plenty of healthy, delicious vegetable-forward items on any of her menus. Salads are loaded with fruit and greens and if you need to warm up, enjoy savory options like my favorite crispy cauliflower fritters wrapped in chickpea batter and served with a red pepper sauce and garlic aioli. Carnivores need not worry however, bite into breakfast sandwiches loaded with ham and prosciutto, fish tacos and chicken and waffles to satisfy.
RISE Culinary Institute
Completing Mahate’s culinary complex is RISE Culinary Institute. The non-profit is her way of helping refugees new to Utah start their own culinary journey in a new country. The goal is to provide three months of hands-on culinary training to refugees, free of charge. Once attendees complete the training, they then participate in a 6-month paid internship with partnering restaurants.
Mahate is currently seeking sponsors and donors but also leading Indian cooking classes for the public with proceeds going toward the institute. Her classes are both informative and fun but most importantly delicious!
Make Bix Bakery Your Destination
The cozy ambiance of Bix Bakery & Cafe provides the perfect backdrop for savoring every bite. Whether savoring a pastry with a cup of artisanal coffee or digging into a flavorful meal while engaging in conversation with friends, Bix Bakery & Cafe is quickly becoming a welcome addition to the Sugar House neighborhood with such warm hospitality.
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