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The aroma of fresh bread
May 22, 2007 |
wafts through this postcard.
Our Postcards Series is about extending a handshake across cyberspace. Read about it here.
Please accord a warm welcome to our guest contributors. They will try to respond to comments and questions.
It’s the crack of dawn on a winter day. She opens her eyes and sees the gorgeous sky. It’s freezing outside. She grabs her camera and tripod, races out of the door and up the hill in her pajamas to take this shot.
That’s Meeta in a nutshell - energetic, adventurous bordering on crazy, and extremely talented. She is Punjabi by ethnicity, grew up in West Asia, now lives in Weimar, Germany with her partner Tom and son Soeren. She is an accomplished chef and an ace photographer, as is evident in her two blogs, What’s for lunch, Honey? and The Daily Tiffin. Also check out her Flickr photostream. We love her.
Here, she tells us about a local celebrity whose personality is as warm and enticing as his culinary creations.
Allow me to introduce the man responsible for all the wonderful bread creations that are used in Soeren’s lunch boxes and enjoyed by us at dinner time: Herr Becker (”Herr” being German for Mr.). Soeren and I are forever joking with him and call him “Herr Becker der BÃcker!” - Mr. Becker the Baker. He takes it lightly and with humor. That’s one of his many qualities - he is not just a brilliant baker but a kind hearted soul, always smiling and despite the size of him he is as gentle as a lamb. His family is equally wonderful and each one of his five ladies help out at the bakery: his daughters Katarina, Katy, Kim, Keila and his wife Kathrin.
Visiting the Beckers at their bakery is never just an in-and-out routine, but an event. We always bring enough of time with us, because there will be a lot of chatter, a bit of gossip and a lot of tasting. Being his favorite customer, Soeren is allowed to go into the back and always taste one of his new creations that “he is currently in the middle of testing” - a new cake, cookie type, or bread. The bakery produces (mostly) organic breads and pastry and the thing I really like is that Herr Becker is always trying out new things.
Kneading and mixing up concoctions, always busy and always with a huge grin on his face. In a week we visit the Beckers 3 to 4 times, buying mostly fresh bread, buns, rolls and pastry. It really is hard to choose one favorite when the variety is so huge, but we have found a few favorite breads we like to buy regularly. That is till the next time Herr Becker comes up with a new bread creation - who knows it might just become one of our new favorites.
Bakeries in Germany sell their large selection of breads in uncut loaves. They are all piled and sorted nicely on shelves behind the glass sales counters. In the glass counters you are disillusioned by the colorful selection of wonderful pastries, cakes and cookies. I think if I was ever left in there at my own risk I would dive into the counter - one of my more crazy fantasies!
The loaves of bread are sold by weight and depending on what’s in them. One of the very best moments is to come home with a bread that is still warm, cutting a slice with the bread knife and the aroma of this wonderful freshly baked good spreading throughout the house, getting some fresh butter out of the fridge and spreading it on the slice. As the butter melts and trickles into the bread you take a huge bite. UMMMMMM! Heavenly!
Did you know that there are at least 300 types of bread to choose from! I think however that, that is just a rough basic number and in actual fact the number is a lot higher. “Brot” is a fundamental part of German food. You will find a “BÃckerei” (bakery) at any street corner and when we ask any of our friends and family living abroad what we should bring with us, the answer is always the same - “Some of that lovely German bread!”
A typical bread mixes wheat and rye flour to form the basis of the traditional German bread. Other popular ingredients also include oats, barley and spelt, or onions, nuts, special types of grain, herbs and spices.
Something we really enjoy eating at our home is probably the darkest bread ever: Pumpernickel. It consists mainly of grainy rye flour and isn’t baked but steamed. This makes it very firm and juicy with a slightly sweetish flavor. As it stays fresh for a long time it is a handy gift for friends and relatives living outside Germany.
What I like about many bakeries here is you can often buy just half of a loaf. Which I do very often. I buy a half of one type and half of another type. This way I have a variety and it does not spoil that quickly.
So, maybe some of you can understand why I never wish for a bread machine on my Birthdays or for Christmas. Why should I
when Herr Becker the Baker is just around the corner?
(Text and pictures by Meeta Albrecht. Reproduced with her permission.)
Germany in pictures here, here and here
German Baking Traditions
Architecture of Germany
Oktoberfest
bakery, becker-the-baker, brot, germany, lifestyle, MUSINGS, Postcards, pumpernickel, TRAVEL, vegetarian recipes, weimar
I loved reading this post. Your decription of Meeta sounds so apt. I simply love all her photographs. Never knew that German bakeries sell so many different types of breads. It’s so sweet of you to write this before Meeta’s bday:)
I wish I had a Mr. Becker in my neighborhood. I am swooning over these photos, Meeta. This is a lovely post and gives me yet another reason to want to visit Germany.
Thanks, Bee! This is another appealing postcard!
For a bread addict like me, the pictures are like a drop of elixir. Only a drop, bcoz I can’t have it
Beautiful pictures and good writeup. Its really interesting to know something new everyday Bee. Viji
i adore German breads, and rye is the all time favorite. once tried rye bread with cumin seeds and that was great. you’ve motivated me enough to make it now ! excellent pictures and write-up. - j
Bee, Jai, Thank you so much for this opportunity. When I read your description of me in your own words I was very touched. I hope that one day we can meet in person so I can give both of you a huge hug. Maybe I’ll have to entice you with some cumin rye bread. Had I known I would have taken a picture of it. It’s one of Herr Becker’s lovely creations!!!
wow..what photographs…truly inspiring…Meeta, i am a regular visitor to your blog and actually love gazing at all those photographs…:-)…you are immensely talented…love this write-up with all those yummy looking bread….:-)
How wonderful to support your local food-makers! The pictures are gorgeous.
Lovely visual treat…can really smell the amazing aromas that must exude from this haven of goodies…thanks Meeta, and of course, Bee and Jai…
Gorgeous pics.So much bread!! No wonder Germans are giants!!:D
The Postcard series is a great treat. Who would not love to have that dear a Baker like Herr. Becker.
What a wonderful spread, Meeta. It was nice to meet Herr Becker, even just on this page. Yes, why would you need to bake bread!
Thanks, Bee and Jai, for bringing this to us! Bread fresh from the oven, smothered with butter - who can beat that!
thanks bee-jai & meeta for this wonderful series and post. i am drooling for those bread pics.
excellent one .Very nice pics.Very informative on the bread .
Yet another gorgeous postcard. I too, like Susan, wish I had a Mr. Becker in my neighbourhood. Often when I want good bread I have to bake it myself.
Excellent pics and write up Meeta.
Thanks for bringing this to us Bee & Jai.
such awesome pics right? loved all of them. the bread and pastries in the bakery are such creations. nice post.
Thank you everyone for your motivation. Once again Bee, Jai thanks to you too!
Only if I had that bakery in my neighborhood! Loved the write up Meeta. I cannot see the images though..some issue I need to fix. Thanks J& B.
[...] may have Herr Backer (pun intended ), but this guy was no slacker. Early in the morning we were treated to the sights [...]