Tuesday April 7th, 2020

Dear Panarians,

This newsletter will find you in your homes, undergoing various forms of “lockdown”.

Covid 19 has caused the postponement of all my courses for April-May-June. By the middle of July, however, I am hoping that our lives will have resumed some normal patterns, and on the strength of that hope I am setting a full programme for the second half of the year. See the new Calendar below.

For the Baker’s Topic here I had the mischievous urge to write about the quirky behaviour of sourdough bacteria, thinking it was a topic that chimed well with the current world absorption with another infamous little microbe. But since a virus is not bacteria I have moved on to a more sensible topic. In each of the next few newsletters I shall compose a topic that deals with an interesting facet, or a recipe, from several of the forthcoming courses that had to be postponed.

CALENDAR  – the second half of the year

July 2020

• Sat 18th — 1 Day Basic British 
• Sat 25th — 1 Day Sourdough Baking 

August 2020

• Sat 8th — 1 Day Basic Bread Baking 
• Sat 22nd — 1 Day French Baking 

September 2020

• Sat 5th — 1 Day Pizza and Italian Baking 
• Sun 6th — 1 Day Wood-fired Oven 
• Sat 19th — 2 Day French – with Sourdough 

October 2020

• Tue 6th — 1 Day Patisserie/Viennoiserie 
• Fri 16th — 3 Day Going Professional 
• Sat 24th — 1 Day Sourdough Baking 

November 2020

• Thu 5th — 4 day bread baking course, Devon 
• Sat 14th — 1 Day Sweet Doughs Christmas Baking 
• Sat 28th — 1 Day Nordic-Germanic 

December 2020

• Sat 5th — 1 Day Basic Bread Baking 

That’s it. Good baking Panarians.  Paul

November 8, 2019

Dear Panarians,

The Bakers’ Topic in this newsletter is Chelsea Buns. These characterful sweet buns were a London confection of the 18th century, and have remained popular. Most bakers make a fairly slap-dash version of them, omitting the layering-in of the cinnamon/butter mix at the start which is done as though you were making puff pastry. This photo shows you the technique, having spread on two-thirds, then performing a pastry-like fold.

COURSE DATES, 2020

See the two Christmas courses to finish this year, then take a look at busy February as shown on the website:

NOVEMBER

• Sat 30th — 1 Day Sweet Doughs (Christmas)

DECEMBER

• Sat 7th — 1 Day Basic Bread Baking

FEBRUARY

• Sat 1st — 1 Day Basic Bread Baking
• Sat 15th — 1 Day Pizza and Italian Baking
• Tue 18th — 1 Day Patisserie/Viennoiserie
• Sat 22nd — 1 Day Nordic-Germanic
• Sat 29th — 1 Day French Baking

To read about these courses, and book, go to https://www.panary.co.uk/course-calendar-and-booking/

RESIDENTIAL COURSES

There are three residential courses in the 2020 programme: one in Provence (late April) and two in Devon (March and November).

For descriptions of these courses, and for booking, go to: https://www.panary.co.uk/?event-category=residential

GIFT VOUCHERS

Soon we shall be overwhelmed by the approach of Christmas and pressure to buy gifts. Gifts involving experiences, training, courses for hobbies, etc., are very popular nowadays. Why not give a special person a day at PANARY on a bread-making course?

For GIFT VOUCHERS, visit https://www.panary.co.uk/gift-vouchers/

STUDENTS’ WORK

Sometimes I like to show in a newsletter something that a keen student has sent me as an aftermath to a course, or pursuing with me a particular topic or type of bread. One-day French Course participant Simon Clifford wrote:

A belated thank you for a most enjoyable and informative day. I have attempted the pain de campagne recipe with excellent results , using my white sourdough starter.
Looking forward to attempting the baguettes next weekend.

Below is the picture he sent me of his sourdough loaf.

Paul

July 9, 2019

Dear Panarians,

Recently, I have been working on setting up some new residential baking courses in Devon. I must thank the owners of the property, Nigel Jones and Tara Fraser, for their friendliness and interest in PANARY bread. We are ready to go and bookings can be taken at Ashley Court, near Tiverton, in Devon.

PANARY now offers two different residential courses. Every spring there has been the course in the vineyard in the Rhone Valley, north of Avignon. We are taking bookings for the next course there in 2020, but unfortunately a cloud of uncertainty hangs over us since the vineyard is for sale. The owners tell me to “carry on” regardless, on the strength of local folklore that says vineyards with wineries attached can take many years to sell.

For all about PANARY in PROVENCE go to https://www.panary.co.uk/craft-baking-courses/panary-provence/

Right now I have the pleasure of telling you about the new one in Devon.

5-day residential baking courses in Devon

First course – November 9 – 15, 2019

Venue

The course is held in a Regency mansion called Ashley Court, which is a family home and a yoga centre. The original Georgian home was completed in 1805, and of great fascination is that this huge house has many original features, having only undergone minor renovations in Edwardian times.

We work in two different kitchens, enjoy our sitting-room at the front of the house, and relax for meals in the beautiful dining room. Upstairs are the bedrooms and bathrooms we use.

Course Details

• 5-day residential course
• 6 night’s accommodation
• meals included, except for two evening dinners we take elsewhere
• £1,075 per course participant
• £550 per non-participant
• Baking tuition occurs on four of the 5 days

Course features

The course structure will feature a different theme each day, enabling many different types and styles of bread to be undertaken, along with their widely different techniques. We shall make savoury and sweet, light and dark, and sourdoughs too. Requests will be taken on the first day, giving the opportunity for students to shape their own programme.

Some typical themes:

• quicker breads made with darker flour
• working with sponges and making slow breads
• sourdough and managing leavens
• breads of Britain, France, Italy, and Nordic countries
• festive breads and Christmas baking (November course)
• flatbreads and pizza
• yeasted pastries – croissants, Danish, brioche

To read more and place bookings, go to https://www.panary.co.uk/craft-baking-courses/5-day-devon-residential-course/

CALENDAR, forthcoming courses

August

• Sat 10th — 1 Day Wood-fired Oven 
• Tue 13th — White Bread Experience 
• Sat 17th — 1 Day French 
• Tue 20th — Focaccia Experience 
• Sat 31st — 1 Day Pizza & Italian 

September

• Sat 7th — Pizza Experience 

Well, Panarians, roll up the sleeves and get kneading.

Good baking, Paul