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Companion Bakery

Companion is an organic wood-fired sourdough bakery based in Oatlands, Tasmania. Central to the bakery's philosophy is the use of organic flour and locally sourced ingredients.

All bread is naturally leavened, shaped by hand and baked using an Alan Scott designed oven. Companion are a member of the Artisan Baker Association. We use the Association's standards designed to make it easier for the customer to identify what is in their bread.

In 2010, Callington Mill will produce Tasmanian grown flour using wind-driven stones. The 18th century Georgian mill is opposite Companion Bakery and we intend to use as much local flour as possible.

Baking Classes are run throughout the year, where bakers and bread enthusiasts are taught the art of sourdough bread and other specialities, including cakes and pastries.

UPDATE: Our first review!

Come in for espresso coffee, cake & our fabulous sourdough bread.

 

Sourdough Baking Classes

Sourdough is the ancient craft of rising bread using natural fermentation. Our classes are hands on, guiding guests through every stage of the sourdough baking process. A Class Calendar is available on our website.

Introduction to Sourdough

We get straight into mixing bread dough using a sourdough starter, then develop and shape the dough into bannetons and tins for baking. Techniques used throughout the course will improve our control of mixing, shaping, baking, time & temperature.

The Alan Scott wood-fired oven is central to the baking process, providing stored heat and a descending temperature preferred for baking. Guests can load and unload the oven using a wooden peel. Oven theory and how to replicate the baking process at home is also reviewed.

Cost:  $270.00 per person including GST
Duration: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Includes:  Baker's Cap, Lunch, Sourdough Starter
Limit of 8 positions per class.

 

Advanced Sourdough Techniques

 

Building on foundation techniques, we look more deeply at fermentation and preparation of ingredients for sourdough bread making. Students will fire the wood-fired oven, make their own soaker and learn how to make sprouted and malted grains.

The full 2 days provides time to practice cool-slow fermentation (retarding) as well as extend room temperature fermentations to suit our needs. Sourdough baking can be measured and controlled but it is often the variations outside our control that makes the most dynamic bread.

Spelt flour will be available for spelt enthusiasts, and we are hoping that Callington Mill will be able to supply freshly stoneground Organic flour (Callington Mill opens mid to late 2010, and is located opposite Companion Bakery).

Participants will have the freedom to create their own recipe on day 2. This type of experimentation is the ethos of our courses and we will be laughing with you not at you if your bread disintegrates in the oven.

Cost:  $540.00 per person including GST
Duration: 9.00am to 5.00pm x 2 days
Includes:  Baker's Cap, Lunch, Sourdough Starter
Limit of 8 positions per class.

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Contact details

    Address:
    Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia.

    Phone: +61 3 6254 0088

    Website: http://companionbakery.com.au

    Email: Email contact form

    Additional details:

    Retail outlets:

    Our sourdough bread is available every Sunday at the Tasmanian Farm Gate market, Melville Street carpark in Hobart from 8am to 12 noon (9am - 1pm during winter months) www.tasfarmgate.com.au

    Our breads & other products can be found in the South at Wursthaus Kitchen, Salamanca and in the north at Alps & Amici in East Launceston.

    Shop Trading Hours:

    Open 9am to 5pm each day except Monday and Tuesday (closed).

Product Standards

Artisan Baker Association members are encouraged to list their products and their corresponding sourdough baking standards below. Please see www.artisanbaker.org/standards for a full description of the standards.

Product: Standard:
Forest Bread (sprouted rye) ART 10 - Organic Sourdough Wholegrain
Romano Celery ART 11 - Organic Sourdough Sifted
Roast Pumpkin Bread ART 11 - Organic Sourdough Sifted
Apple Sultana ART 11 - Organic Sourdough Sifted
Sesame Sunflower ART 11 - Organic Sourdough Sifted
Country Batard ART 11 - Organic Sourdough Sifted


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