VIDEO: Jack’s bread business is on the rise
BREAD plays a vital role in our everyday diet, and there is nothing better than the warm smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the house. However, rather than getting elbow deep in dough, many of us opt for the convenience of a sliced supermarket loaf.
But this week (May 7-13) is Real Bread Maker Week, which is dedicated to celebrating bread that is made without additives and using traditional techniques. It is also about encouraging people to support local bakers, like Jack Fargher who has spent the last year turning his love of bread into a business venture.
Jack started baking artisan bread from his kitchen in Bradgate Road, Bedford, when he left university. And while the self-confessed foodie started off baking for his friends and family he now sells his bread throughout town.
The 21-year-old said: “My mum started making bread for our family a few years ago because we are a large family. I personally love bread and when you start making real bread you can’t stop.
“It is not like what you get in the supermarket, which you pay a lot of money for and it is simply not good enough quality.”
He added: “When I came back from university I started making bread for family and friends. It was not related to my degree but I wanted to make a bit of money and do something creative.
“My mum and brother help as well, it is a bit of a family affair and we all love to do it.”
Jack set up Hot Shelf Breads and started baking professionally when he got his first bread order from Andaluz café in Castle Road. He now bakes a batch of fougasse, a French-style bread, for the café every weekend.
All of his bread is made using additive-free ingredients and is hand kneaded for around 10 minutes. Jack also follows simple recipes to make rustic sourdough loaves and baguettes, and has even experimented making bread using beer.
He said: “We forget sometimes that bread is not this over-processed thing you get from the shops. For hundreds and thousands of years everyone had to make their own bread or go to a proper bakery.
“Baking your own bread is so fun and easy to do. You can really see the results of your labour and share it with other people, and that is one of the reasons I do it.
“It makes me feel happy to see people enjoying something you have put so much love and effort into.”
l For more information visit www.facebook.com/pages/Hot-Shelf-Breads/126229510826340
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 20 May 2013
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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