Hey Jewish People …

… laugh as you watch the lapsed Catholic boy try to make bagels. The ever resourceful Gert Jan Vos, chef/patron of Oren, Hole in the Wall Street in Caernarfon, changes his menu every week which keeps this baker well on his toes. Last week he was drawing from both the Ashkenazy and Sephardic traditions for […]

BSBI2

Second guest baker learning Bethesdabakers’ methods & systems by practical experience this week was Luke Conlon. These courses are becoming a very rewarding two-way process with me getting the benefit of the participants’ ideas, experience and view of how bread making can enrich their lifestyle, while they seem to go away feeling their plans can […]

BSBI

Fantastic occasion in the history of Bethesdabakers last week – the official launch of the Bethesda Sourdough Baking Institute. First student on the two day Microbakin’ Course, Tim Lukehurst: seen here with a Granary loaf baked on day two. Students are given the opportunity to scale up a favourite recipe and Tim chose a Tom […]

A Question from the Doctor

The great Doctor Fugawe asks: Here’s a good one for me uncle (even if he ain’t!) – and you even have some degree of responsibility for this one, since it’s your ‘Classic Sourdough Loaf’ that I used here. I’m working through your new book, doing each bread in it – so I put together Mick’s […]

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!