Sourdough Breadmaking Classes

Over the years, it's been a great pleasure to share the wonderful art of sourdough breadmaking with people. I've done hands on workshops with seven year old kids, keen home cooks, special groups and professional chefs. Everyone seems to get something different from them, but I guarantee that everyone also has a great time! Breadmaking is serious fun. Occasionally, a true baker is unearthed, and this too is a great thing to see.

Making, baking and tasting sensational sourdough bread is always an experience, but doing it with a group of other people is always the most satisfying and fun way of learning.

I have a series of hands on sourdough breadmaking workshops and demonstration breadmaking classes which can easily be tailored to the needs of your cooking school or group.

I am happy to travel, provided you have enough interested people to cover costs (and I can spare the time from the Bakery). You need a suitable venue - even a large domestic kitchen is fine for these workshops. You need bench space, and an oven. I bring everything else.

Sourdough Breadmaking 101

On a monthly basis, I facilitate a one off demonstration workshop for a 'guided tour' of sourdough breadmaking. They are held at SourdoughBaker Cafe in Hunter Street Newcastle West. You can book online for this event by following the Sourdough Breadmaking 101 link.

At the workshops, we progress through the complete sourdough breadmaking process, including:

• establishing and maintaining a sourdough starter,
• Australian flours and how to get the best out of them,
• doughmaking and dough handling techniques, including how to make a dough easily by hand,
  
• Bulk and secondary proofing, dough retardation, 
  
• hand forming skills, including rounding and working with 'soft' and 'hard' dough
  
• setting up an oven for baking bread
  
• baking techniques.

These workshops are hands on, and you end up making and taking home quality artisan sourdough breads in just one day.

If you are in the Newcastle area, contact me for upcoming classes. Workshops are now held regularly at SourdoughBaker Cafe at 774 Hunter Street Newcastle. To book for the next workshop, you can go here.

Happy Sourdough Breadmaking!