Arcachon 15 001

Here we are back in our French hideaway for four weeks trying to regain a bit of sanity and R&R. Arrived late Saturday afternoon in time to buy a bit of pasta to get through to Sunday which is … Market Day!! Well Arcachon has a market every day except Monday but M. Brion only […]

Grunkern-Karrottenbrot

Some of you will remember Nils Schoener and his curiously named ye olde bread blog which sadly hasn’t been updated for about four years. He very generously used to post his bread recipes there and I used to steal them and to learn about rye from him. But, as a minor piece of compensation, I […]

Me and Lady C

Stig, long time baker from the start of Bethesdabakin’, was in touch to say that her daughter, Eve, had a part in the BBC’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover broadcast last Sunday. Eve seems to be on the way to being a successful actor – she is also in Ibsen’s Little Eyolf at London’s Almeida Theatre from […]

Breaking the Rules

Look at this then: Pain de Campagne you say. Seen it before. So what … This weekend was my Mom’s 94th birthday so Sue and I went to celebrate with her. Saturday morning refreshed my starter and put it in the fridge – normally it lives on the countertop. Had two days trying to keep […]

A Straightforward Approach to Bread

Haven’t had too many students so far this year but those I have had have been stars – all enthusiastic and talented. Bella, who did a course a few months back came to Bethesdabakin’@Trefriw in July. Darren came across from Manchester and has been sending photos of his progress (which is rapid) ever since. Couple […]

Trefriw Two

It always happens to me. I start off with good intentions and take a load of photographs before everyone arrives. Then Jay says do you want to try this year’s cider and it’s down hill to Monday morning. But I can vaguely remember it being one of the most pleasant and relaxed baking weekends we […]

Aloha Again

Yes, the previous was a rehearsal for our neighbour Steffi’s birthday party. She, amongst her other talents, is a surfer girl. Couple of years back she had a memorable holiday in Haiwaii so this was the theme for her party. I did a couple of creatures from the deep plus a load of coconut flatbreads. […]

Aloha, aloha …

Just for a change Gert’s sent me to the Pacific. “Haiwaii” he commands. All the bakers I tell this to make the same joke: pineapple, ham, cheese – why not put it on a round, flat dough? Google leads us to King’s Haiwaiian, a bakery set up in Hilo in the 50s and to the […]

Trefriw Sat a.m.

Let’s start with Fri p.m. You remember cider making with Jay last November, the work that went into filling that 580 litre tank. Well now it’s payback time. Imagine the sense of security that comes with knowing there’s no chance of a drought this weekend. Anyway, twenty odd bakers are assembled here at Jay & […]

T for Texas

Gert asked for Tex-Mex bread this week. I think he was expecting an old favourite like Black Bean and Jalapenos so he was quite surprised when he collected his order this afternoon, a brand new, purpose designed Texas Tomatillo Bread. Tomatillo Salsa, plus Chiles Serrano, plus soured cream – not to mention the Lone Star […]