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| | News - the latest news from CobsBakery, Cambridge | |
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| Bakery photos | 11 January, 2005 at 12:00:00 | | All our white and wholemeal breads use old long fermentation techniques to prepare the bread for the oven. Here a "sponge" of well fermented dough is loaded into the mixer as the foundation for the wholemeal bread and rolls. In order not to "break" the living dough more than necessary CobsBakery scales and moulds all the doughs by hand. Here Alan is scaling off a small wholemeal dough, preparatory to moulding it into tins. This degree of hand-work is time consuming and expensive but gives the best possible results - particularly when working with some of the more temperamental speciality flours. Shaping or moulding the dough by hand - in this case "chafing" small round "cob" loaves. Not only is there a "knack" to getting a good round loaf but there is a skill in reading the feel of the different doughs to get the best results. These things come by practice and CobsBakery mixes over 150 different doughs each week. We're getting there! Sour dough is free of fast-acting bakers' yeast and needs the support of some sort of container as the loaves prove before baking. Here Alan is tipping the loaves out of the proving baskets and cutting the tops before loading them into the oven. This is a technique very rarely employed in commercial bakery today and Alan has done much research and experimentation, as well as seeking out the few current practitioners, to learn how to revive this part of the bakers' craft. Stacking the loaves of white bread as they are turned, hot from the tins. This is the first bread of the night's baking. A large white tin loaf may not seem very exotic but, as with all our breads, it is lovingly created by hand and free from chemicals for people who want the best. And that is what CobsBakery is about - baking the best bread that we can for discerning customers. | |
| Slicer | 21 March, 2008 at 13:06:02 | | We're not cut up about it all but we can now cut bread to order - the large white, wholemeal and malthouse loaves. Here's Tony cutting a large loaf with absolutely no risk to his fingers! | |
| Criss-Cross Crossing | 21 March, 2008 at 13:09:00 | | Only for 2 weeks a year - but that feels like plenty! This is Alan putting crosses on soon-to-be hot buns for Easter. So now you know how it's done! | |
| Heart Transplant! | 3 December, 2007 at 2:41:44 | | We hope you haven't noticed, but we've had some "major surgery" in the bakery. Our old oven was beginning to show its age and we have retired it in favour of this big new one. Not only is it bigger (an extra deck) and potentially hungrier for electricity - the photo shows the installation of the new electricity supply - but it is much more modern and efficient with computer control and some new features that we have yet to experiment with. We have moved from "state of the ark" to "state of the art" in one jump and it has been a bit traumatic at times. But we hope you haven't noticed! | |
| Hello Dennis! | 28 October, 2007 at 9:16:45 | | The circle of CobsBakery friends at Thetford's Tuesday market continues to grow and this is Dennis -- Honorary Sales Rep and a great advocate of good baking! Dennis is one of a number of regular customers who we're so glad to see between 9 am and 1pm on Tuesdays. Come and join the crowd! | |
| Hello Sara! | 28 October, 2007 at 6:58:21 | | Although making a good job of keeping away from Alan's camera, Sara has been working with us for a couple of months now. You can catch up with Sara at some of our market stalls but that may be the only time - she is an accomplished tri-athelete! Oh, yes, and the drip with the y-fronts is Captain Splosh, the brains behind Anglian Water. We refrain from comment. | |
| Hello Donald! | 28 October, 2007 at 9:59:50 | | Donald started with us at Ely Farmers' Market (second and fourth Saturdays) and has graduated to working in the Bakery and looking after Peterborough Farmers' Market. We could say a great deal about Donald . . . . . but will just pay tribute to him as the Scone- and Danish- Kaiser. He also has a fund of stories and jokes and is a proud Scot. Don't ask him about Gordon Brown! | |
| Packing up time! | 11 June, 2007 at 12:22:35 | | It was packing up time for the packing team but Alan just managed to hold them for a moment to have their picture taken! Unsung heroes of CobsBakery, these people are "bright eyed and bushy tailed" (relatively) at 5.00am on a Saturday morning to wrap around 600 packs of bread and rolls and assemble the orders for delivery to markets and customers. It is quite a fluid group and they welcome new members from time to time - let us know if you would like to join them. Here we have Katerina, Tim, Gary and Preet - next time it could be you! | |
| E-X-P-A-N-S-I-O-N | 16 April, 2007 at 12:47:52 | | We thought we would be moving, but then the unit next door in Robert Davies Court became available so we just expanded. It is a mirror image of Unit 14, where we started, but otherwise externally the same. Internally it will soon be cleaned up and in action for packing and as a secondary production and raw materials storage area. An internal connecting door completes the deal and soon there will be more staff, more equipment, more products and more outlets. All exciting stuff! | |
| Have you seen . . . . ? | 16 April, 2007 at 12:40:12 | | With a little information and lots of colour pictures, our new leaflet is finally available. It goes out with a price list and list of outlets so there is lots of information. There is even a picture of Alan which has been described as "eye candy" - he thinks it is a compliment but he isn't sure! | |
| Hello Brian | 10 January, 2007 at 12:15:12 | | New year: new team member! Brian is starting 2007 by joining Cobs Bakery. He is getting to grips with being part of a small team having worked (mainly) with BT (which we don't hold against him!). Principally looking after deliveries, Brian will be one of our essential links between the baking team and our customers. | |
| New Publication | 2 November, 2006 at 12:24:29 | | We're in the act of preparing a new leaflet about the bakery and Lucy has been to visit three times to photograph us at work and (much more attractive) some of the breads. We enjoyed having Lucy around and were very impressed with the pictures so it's all looking good for a super leaflet. See more of Lucy's work at www.forget-me-not-designs.co.uk. We should point out that Lucy isn't small enough to hide behind a loaf of bread (although very trim) - its Alan's rotten photography! | |
| Hello Janine! | 23 October, 2006 at 15:36:20 | | This is Janine, looking a bit apprehensive, as she prepares to meet the good folk of Huntingdon at the Farmers' Market. Janine is combining a lot of customer contact on various markets with some duties in the bakery, so come and say "Hello Janine!" at St Ives, Ramsey, Royston and Huntingdon - amongst others. PS Huntingdon was fine - she really enjoyed it in the end! | |
| Leszek labelling bread | 4 April, 2005 at 12:00:00 | | Leszek Morawski was the third in a series of very valued helpers who have braved the early mornings to help Alan in the bakery on a part-time basis. Leszek did more than ever and started earlier than any as the business is expanding. Leszek returned to Poland in October to continue his studies in economics to be replaced by a full-time worker, Tony Simpkins. | |
| Happy customer | 4 April, 2005 at 12:00:00 | | A happy customer at Thetford Tuesday Market with his favourite treat - a CobsBakery Meusli Roll. Thetford people seem to love CobsBakery bread and Alan sells out every Tuesday by about 12.30. | |
| Home baking course | 26 February, 2005 at 11:00:00 | | "Your Home Baking", an afternoon of baking and conversation of a more introductory nature, on Saturday 30th April (and possibly 30th July.) Places will be limited to 6 participants (children over 10 years are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult, which will count as 2 places). Small numbers will enable discussion to cover topics raised by participants, as well as covering general introductory matters. We also plan an afternoon designed to follow on from "Your Home Baking" on the afternoon of Saturday 29th October. Content for this afternoon is still in planning, but we expect to look in more detail at sourdoughs and rye breads. We expect the afternoons to run from 1-5pm and will cost £35 per person. The workshops will all take place at Cobs Bakery, 14 Robert Davies Court, off Nuffield Road, Cambridge (). Further details will be advised nearer the time. Booking, by e-mail or post, will be strictly first come, first served. | |
| Huntingdon Market | 2 November, 2004 at 11:00:00 | | Alan attended Huntingdon Farmers' Market on Friday 1st October in Huntingdon Market Square. He was pleased with the response of the customers to his organic breads and looks forward to trading there every fortnight. Further information on the market and details of dates from 01480 388640. | |
| Thetford Farmers' Market | 25 October, 2004 at 12:00:00 | | CobsBakery.com attends a number of Farmers' Markets in the area - which has included Thetford, Newmarket, Braintree and Huntingdon. See "Available From" for an up-to-date list. This is a picture of Alan's stall at Thetford, having sold a van full of bread in 90 minutes! A few rolls and a stack of empty trays were all that was left. | |
| Baking workshop success | 25 October, 2004 at 12:00:00 | | Alan ran two afternoon baking workshops as part of the Cambridge Food and Drink Festival which were a great success and were but the first of many. Two groups of six people came and made some great bread and left inspired to go and try out some new techniques | |
| Harvest Sheaf | 30 September, 2004 at 12:00:00 | | Alan made a Harvest Sheaf for St Andrews School in Nuffield Road - one of the seasonal pieces of the Bakers' art. He's pleased to do others to order - and guarantees that the mouse won't nibble anything it shouldn't! | |
| CobsBakery.Com Van | 30 September, 2004 at 13:00:00 | | Have you spotted the new CobsBakery.Com van around town yet? It now sports the bright red colours of the CobsBakery logo. | |
| Bread makers' workshops | 15 September, 2004 at 13:00:00 | | Alan will be giving two workshops at The Cambridge food festival. Beat the Bread Machine: 1-5p.m. Wed 20 and Sat 23 October at 14 Robert Davies Court. Map: . Come and make two contrasting European breads and pick up some tricks at the home of a small artisanal bakery. Bring your apron! (Max 6 people per session). £14.00 per person | |
| First breads produced | 21 August, 2004 at 10:00:00 | | The first batch of breads produced from the ovens at CobsBakery.Com were enthusiastically purchased by shoppers at the weekly Oakington Market. The entire stock was sold out within two hours! | |
| CobsBakery.Com launched | 30 August, 2004 at 14:00:00 | | Cobs Bakery is proud to announce the launch of its new website. The website was designed by Reggie Thomson - Web Designer and World Photographer. See for some of his photographs. | |
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