As a way to counteract the weirdness of life in lockdown, I’ve been nurturing a deep appreciation for the simple things in life... like bread and salt.
Last year I was lucky enough to be able to take a fabulous canal-boat trip along the Canal du Midi in France (man, that all feels like a lifetime ago…). We were in the Camargue where, among other things, they produce salt from vast swaths of pinkish salt marsh. I found a small jar of salt in a shop specializing in regional treats and brought it home.
The salt was an instant hit! Debating whether or not it could possibly have a noticeably different flavour to regular table salt, we did some blind taste tests and, yes, all of us were able to identify the fancy French salt (perhaps this is one of the secrets to why stuff tastes so good in France?)
Even though I try to stay away from too much gluten these days, I still love to bake bread and the loaves I’ve made since my return do taste ever so slightly different (better!) than loaves baked before that Camargian salt came home with me.
Wild Flour Bakery in Banff provides fresh, local bread for the Bow Valley.
Essential Bread Ingredients
I suppose that makes sense. There isn’t much involved in a plain loaf of bread. The basic ingredients are flour, water, salt, and yeast. Yes, there are all kinds of variations from there, but the basic loaf of bread is pretty straightforward.
It’s fascinating to me that such a simple concoction can bring so much pleasure and satisfaction. A thick slab of bread, buttered and slathered with strawberry jam is heavenly. A crusty roll torn open and filled with cheese, slices of tomato, and perhaps some olive bits must be just about the perfect picnic lunch to eat while perched at the side of a meandering river.
Bread is, indeed, a staple in our world, so it’s a darned good thing that bakers and bakeries have been deemed essential services. There is something reassuring about seeing images of fresh loaves lined up waiting to make their way into our kitchens.
JK Bakery continues to offer bread and baked goods for local takeout and delivery.
Three local bakers continue to provide our daily bread and might I just say, “Thank you!” If you don’t already, follow Wild Flour Artisan Bakery, JK Bakery and Uprising Bakery online. They are all active on social media and currently providing safe local pick-up and delivery (check their respective Facebook and Instagram feeds for the latest details - things keep changing so I don’t want to get too specific about the particular offers here). Suffice it to say that supporting these small businesses during the crisis by ordering their baked goods is one way of making sure they are still around after the dust settles and the world returns to normal.
Wild Flour Artisan Bakery
Located in the popular Bison Courtyard in downtown Banff, Wild Flour Artisan Bakery makes organic, local, and healthy artisan bread and pastries.
The bakery location is currently open for take-out only but now Banff residents can order online and pick-up from the bakery, or get your favourites delivered right to your door! Their delivery menu includes handcrafted loaves of bread, lunches and treats, plus breakfast staples like ground coffee and granola.
Brighten your day with a little Wild Flour goodness, all baked right here in Banff.
JK Bakery - Banff
Like all restaurants and bakeries offering their wares during the COVID pandemic, it’s a good idea to check ahead to see what products are in stock on any given day. With a takeout and delivery menu featuring local favorites, the bakery is able to handle same-day orders for pickup and delivery orders when they are placed 24 hours in advance.
Uprising Bakery
If a loaf of bread is good, a bag of bread is even better! Each week Pat the Baker curates a selection of bread which is delivered to you in a cotton drawstring bread bag. Quantities are limited so be sure to get your order in early! Sourdough is an Uprising specialty, so expect to see lots of sourdough varieties in the bread selection each week (Czech, Egyptian, Light Rye, Herb-infused are just a few examples).
Pat the Baker at Uprising Bakery is always experimenting with new bread varieties.
Some things will, no doubt, have changed when COVID passes, but our need for decent bread is about as certain as anything can be certain.
Exploring the Essentials on Netflix
If you love food as much as I do, you might enjoy these two Netflix series that look at the essence of what makes good food great.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
This fun foodies series is inspired by the book of the same name by Samine Nosrat. Explore what makes food taste great no matter where you are in the world!
Then, move on to COOKED, featuring Michael Pollan.
Pollan has been writing about farming and food for years and in this series, he explores the evolution of food through the lenses of the four natural elements; fire, water, air, and earth.
What are your top picks when it comes to food-inspired shows available online? Let us know in the comments!