Shoulder to Shoulder

I don’t know where my life went but I always meant to have more on the blog about cooking, music and other things that matter to me – you know, like cocktails. Anyway, Saturday morning, went up to the mighty city of Bangor to cash in at the bank after a heavy day’s baking, under […]

It’s For You-ooooooo!

It’s the last bake of the day. The scent of courgette & parmesan flatbreads in a hot oven is giving the taste-buds a going over. The phone rings. “Hello”. I’ve been developing this terse, not-very-friendly “hello” implying that I was just on the brink of finding the Lost Chord when the phone shattered my concentration, […]

St Patrick, Great Danes, Dalmatians & Flying Saucers

For today’s St Patrick’s Day offerings I asked my customers to suspend their disbelief. Main Special: Nina’s Bread with Dark Beer & Spelt: That photo was taken at the original Bethesdabakin’ in 2007 – Nina’s recipe, Rick’s famous Bodger oven. So I assured my customers St Patrick’s origins were Danish and poured in plenty of […]

Focaccia Dewi Sant II

I have to say it was pretty good this year.

Focaccia Dewi Sant

This is the sort of thing you won’t get from other bakers – Focaccia Dewi Sant. Being baked today for my customers, nearest bake to St David’s Day. Leek focaccia with a single red chile to represent the Welsh dragon. I bill it as a “traditional” Welsh focaccia (made up a couple of years back).

A Birthday Present from Phil Joy

“Want a recipe for Apple, Cheddar and Guinness Soda Bread, Mick?” said Phil at my birthday bash in The Old Harkers, Chester, last Saturday. “Is pork chops greasy?” I replied, even though I was still on my first pint of Old Rosie. What a birthday present!

A Glimmer of Light

The famous Oat & Honey. Yesterday for the first time this year sunlight featured in a photograph. This morning it’s grey and wet.

Move Over Jamie Oliver

The first printing of my book, Bethesdabasics, has completely sold out. Jamie needn’t worry quite yet – the print run was only 100 copies – but I feel pretty pleased with that. As well as the UK, there are now copies in Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland, Holland, New Zealand and the USA. This is what Chefcdp […]

This Bakers Life No. 277

On the eve of my 64th birthday senility raised its ugly head or at least gave me a hard stare over the parapet. I have a spread sheet calculator that works out quantities for the day’s bake, so the ingredient weights for each dough are detailed on a printed worksheet. The weight of starter for […]

A Real Baker

Azélia wants to know why I say I’m not a real baker? One of my talents is annoying people – I don’t have to try, it just comes naturally. I think there is a lot of bullshit talked about baking and particularly sourdough baking and I have a habit of saying so. Where can you […]