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forkies · Mar 15, 2007, 10:32 AM

i like to make cakes, cookies, muffins, not much experience with bread but would like to... how would i go about becoming a baker / starting my own bakery. of course, depending on where you live the process would be different, but surely there are things that i could learn from working with a baker or from someone who does such work now. anyone here a baker?

centerchannel68 · Mar 15, 2007, 10:33 AM

I'd get a job at a bakery, learn the ropes, work there for a few years, then start your own. Keep the prices low and try to make pretty nice stuff and you'll probably do fine, especially if you try to go organic, or even better, LOCAL.

PS: I made chocolate chip cookies 2 days ago. And banana bread a bit before that. Heh.

forkies · Mar 15, 2007, 10:42 AM

hey, sounds like the stuff i make. while totally normal and boring back home (MN), in japan it's a little uncommon and people go nuts for it. i made some macadamia nut and white chocolate cookies yesterday for white day, and mini cheesecakes for certain friends.

it kinda sucks, cuz although breads are cool, i think i do better (now) with these cookie-cake sweets rather than bread. bread's ****ing hard to deal with!

centerchannel68 · Mar 15, 2007, 10:43 AM

Bread owns ****ing?

marden · Mar 15, 2007, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by forkies

i like to make cakes, cookies, muffins, not much experience with bread but would like to... how would i go about becoming a baker / starting my own bakery. of course, depending on where you live the process would be different, but surely there are things that i could learn from working with a baker or from someone who does such work now. anyone here a baker?

Call a number of bakeries in your area. Ask for the head baker. Ask them what ONE (not two or three but ONE) skill or trait they value in a new apprentice.

Then listen.

And write down what they say. Have them repeat it or ask them to slow down so you can get every word. Make sure you take good notes of the time of day, the date and day of the call and how he or she sounded (happy, annoyed, busy etc.) make sure you get their name. Then thank them for their time and ask if it would be alright to call again if you have any more questions.

Somewhere in this process one of them should ask you why you want to know this or if you are actually looking to start as an apprentice baker.

Tell them yes.

From there you are on your own.

If he/she asks you to tell them a little about yourself the key is to sound enthusiastic about baking.

If you want ONE killer thing to say to him/her, just say this:

"You should see me with eggs!"

They will say, "like what do you mean?"

You will reply, "I crack eggs with ONE HAND!"

They will laugh because cracking eggs with one hand is part of Professional Cooking 101. BUT, it is something that 99% of amateur cooks do not do. Most amateurs use two hands.

So by saying with pride that you use ONE HAND to crack eggs you will show yourself to be a real student of food preparation and that you have worked on your own to elevate yourself above the amateur level. And the statement will endear you to the baker if you say it with enthusiasm.

Now, get 2 dozen eggs and get busy practicing cracking them with ONE hand. And you always crack them on a flat surface, not on the edge of a pot or pan lest small bits of eggshell gets into the liquid.

Let us know how it works out!

nonhuman · Mar 15, 2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Bread owns ****ing?

It can also be a contraction for 'bread is'.

Jawbone54 · Mar 15, 2007, 12:05 PM

"I couldn't become a banker..."

powerbook867 · Mar 15, 2007, 12:42 PM

I worked in a bread/cookie/muffin bakery for about a year when I started back to school.

Early mornings are a requirement. I would roll in the door at 4:15 am. I did all the morning prep for most of the goods they sold. It's a lot of work, since you are mixing large quanities of water, flour, molasses, sugar, butter...you get the idea..

You are handling heavy equipment that you can get hurt using if you are not careful.. Big mixers with a lot of torque. If you have allergies, you will probably have some problems. Flour all over the freakin place..

I did not do the baking part, since I was so busy doing prep. Mistakes can be costly because they are not found out till the end of the process..in which case you now probably have product you can't give away becasue it doesn't taste right. Holiday time was extremely nuts since everyone wants breads and rolls...

Did I mention it's a lot of work?

I am sure it can be rewarding from an ownership perspective, but if you are going it solo, be prepared...

Also, the equipment it pricey at the retail business level. Big stoves, mixers, vats, possibly a flour mill...Good luck!

design219 · Mar 15, 2007, 01:41 PM

My wife is a serious bread baker. There is a lot to know to get it right. She makes adjustments for the humidity, temp, age of yeast, exact types of flower and on and on.

Point is, she loves it, but it took years of working with baking, reading and working with others to get where she can do it very consistantly. I agree with the others that getting started in a bakery would be a great start.

Good luck!

iMOTOR · Mar 15, 2007, 04:01 PM

When you open your Bakery, be sure to sell other stuff too, like aged salami, hand made sausages, imported beers, exotic cheeses, etc. That way, if someone comes in for beer, they might think: fcuk it, I'll buy some bread too.

And most importantly, be sure to specialize in an ethnic bread that the other bakeries in the community don't sell.

Or you just could start another Ma and Pa, Steak and Potatoes, Missionary Position bread store, nothing wrong with that.

design219 · Mar 15, 2007, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by iMOTOR

Missionary Position bread

Gotta love it.

imitchellg5 · Mar 15, 2007, 04:05 PM

I'll test your stuff if you start a bakery

. But seriously, my mom loves to bake also. She doesn't want to go into business though. I think she could be pretty successful. Good luck with whatever you do.

Monique · Mar 15, 2007, 04:07 PM

You must have a technical school near your home; maybe as a part of your high school. Or, you can go to a serious cooking school and specializing in pastry making. As for your own business, the government in the U.S. as in Canada gives grants for small businesses. Ask your local employment office, the net, the banks, etc.

forkies · 03:55 AM

lol, let me fill you in on some stuff

i am 25 and live/work in japan. i don't go to high school

also, the kind of things i mentioned above, while normal to some of us, are already quite special given where i live. so, i'm wondering how i could start to make some ¥¥ off of this while doing something i like. thx for the tips & info!