The Baker.

Whilst I’m not a great fan of Mother’s Pride or Warburtons bread, those sliced loaves have their place. As a child, long car journeys always involved a Tupperware Square Round packed with tomato sandwiches, squashed and soggy from the juices squeezed out and into the bread by the small box. Later, when expecting one of our children, I craved tuna and cucumber sandwiches in, what we called, white plastic bread. These days I much prefer well made fresh bread, sometimes making my own in the bread machine. Winter afternoons certainly benefit from those warming smells… We have recently been enjoying the work of a new baker in town. He’s spent a lot of money equipping his shop. In the past it was a jeweller’s, an antique shop and a tanning salon so required a total refit. He’s let me have a peek at all the machinery and ovens where he starts work at 3a.m. with the shop open from 6 till 6. He’s very busy making cakes too. The other day he’d got eclairs ready to fill and coat. For Valentines day he made heart-shaped strawberry mousse cheesecakes. Utterly delicious as they weren’t too sweet. But his bread…baguettes, seedy cornbreads and then his croissants…the almond ones are sublime. Now my mouth is watering! So last week it was the butcher, this week the baker. Next week? Sorry – not the candlestick maker 😉