After years of working in some of America’s most iconic restaurants, Chef Tova du Plessis decided to go back to her roots when she opened her first bakery. She took inspiration from the fresh baked bread and pastries she would make alongside her mother as a child. Her food reflects her heritage while being heavily influenced by her technical training.
About Essen Bakery
Essen Bakery is a cozy neighborhood spot where a big city can feel like a small town. We buy freshly roasted coffee beans from Elixr, our favorite local roaster. Fridays are extra busy as people trickle in throughout the day for a challah or sweet for Shabbat.
Saturdays and Sundays are crowded and lively as fans from all over the city and the country make their weekend complete with a slice of babka. Any day of the week, you can find us making sandwiches on pillowy bagels and breads, grinding freshly roasted coffee beans and boxing up buttery pastries. We bake everything from scratch every day from the best ingredients we can find. Essen gezunt!
Press
In the Press
James Beard: Why This Baker’s Challah is the Talk of Philadelphia
YahooNews!: The Best Things to do In Philadelphia
Al Día: How Essen Bakery on Passyunk is creating pastries with African and Jewish influences
Philadelphia Jewish Exponent: Essen Pastry Chef Tova du Plessis ‘Beat Bobby Flay’
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Best Philadelphia Cookies
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Food You Can Ship Nationally
6 ABC News: South Philly's Essen Bakery Grabs 4th James Beard Nomination
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