What started out as a hobby soon became a full-fledged business, melding passion with career. Around October 2013, the husband and wife team started baking and delivering their home-baked goods, and everyone soon started falling in love with the artisanal sourdough loaves ($5 – $8) from The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough.
Using at least 50% whole wheat organic flour, their loaves are all baked dark and naturally leavened. Unlike the usual sourdough variety, the loaves contain a high water content due to the whole grain flour used. Baked at a high temperature, the result is a dark crust that is crispy, encasing the fluffy and moist bread inside.
What that means is that you can distinctly taste the different flavours from the Maillard reaction, which you might not get with your regular bakes.
They ensure that no commercial yeast is used and if you’re a fan, you can subscribe for their quarterly bread share system that runs for 12 weeks, where they’ll deliver freshly baked breads to your doorstep weekly at no additional charges.
If you’re not familiar with sourdough bread, why not pop down to Serene Centre for a taste.
A quaint bakery located right next to Sugarhaus, The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough offers up not just the famous sourdough loaves, but other breads like the seeded loaves, walnut loaves, etc. There’s also a food menu, where almost every ingredient is lovingly handmade.
Try the in-house granola ($6) or favourites like the nut butter with sea salt on toast ($3.50), hummus with za’atar & extra virgin olive oil ($4); and yes, they make the nut butters and hummus themselves.
If you’re looking for something savoury, look out for the kimchee + cheddar hot pressed sandwich ($7) or the tapenade + fresh mozzarella hot pressed sandwich ($9). While the kimchi and sauerkraut aren’t make in-house, they are looking into fermenting their own in the near future.
Pair your toasts and sandwiches with the hand-dripped coffee, where the beans are acquired from a boutique coffee roaster, whom they work very closely with. They’ve brought in a Moccamaster for the batch brew ($4), or you could have it as a hand brew ($5).
Cold Brew – single origin brewed in cold water for 14 hours ($5.50)
A perfect pick-me-up for any hot afternoon, the cold brew was light and easy to drink.
If you’re looking for something more intense, opt for the V60 or Kalita hand brews ($5 each). Each batch of beans has a distinct taste, with some more fruity and others more nutty.
Depending on your preference, don’t hesitate to ask them for recommendations!
Sage Cream Cheese with Berry Compote ($4)
The sage cream cheese had a subtle garlic hint, which combined very well to further accentuate the sourdough. The toast was crisp on the outside, sticky and soft on the inside, which is a result from the dark crust which prevents the insides from drying out.
The berry compote balanced the entire toast with its sweetness, creating a light and satisfying treat.
Tapenade + Fresh Mozzarella ($9)
Made in-house, the tapenade consists of olives, capers, parsley, lemon, garlic and black pepper. All of which adds up to a very savoury and slightly zesty paste that hits the spot.
The fresh mozzarella added a creamy texture to the paste without overpowering the flavours. The sourdough provided a subtle sour taste and I was so in love with this hot pressed sandwich.
The bakes were amazing and the sourdough loaf was one of the more distinctly flavoured ones that I’ve tried thus far. And they definitely have a good grip on how to not dry out the insides while keeping it incredibly crisp on the outside.
I loved the fact that they try their very best to make everything in-house, upholding the quality of the bakes that they serve. For me, that’s reason enough to support them.
Plus, every Friday night is Pizza Night from 6pm – 10pm. One more reason to head down!
Expected damage: $5 – $20 per person
