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Newsletter 53 – Gift Vouchers, student’s work, understanding sourness……..

18th December 2019 by Paul Merry

December 16th, 2019

Dear Panarians,

Christmas approaches, the year soon ends, and this is the last newsletter for 2019. Its Bakers’ Topic is for sourdough practitioners, giving some basic background information about sourness.

Click here to view the BAKER’S TOPIC – Sourness

Gift Vouchers

It amuses me how often it is said that a gift voucher that enables the recipient to learn a skill or a craft “is the gift that keeps on giving…” It makes a good point, and surely baking for friends and family is a splendid form of giving.

To purchase a PANARY Gift Voucher, visit – https://www.panary.co.uk/gift-vouchers/

Student’s work

Rob Stander came to learn at PANARY earlier this year as he was gearing up to open his cafe in Plymouth. He brought his chef who was joining him for the new venture, and we did two intensive days together. Now they are up and running in their Early Bird Cafe, Plymouth.

Rob explains:  my sourdoughs are made using a dark rye starter leaven into a production leaven, and then I alternate one day a ‘white’ sourdough and the next a wholemeal dough. 

  • Newsletter 53 - Gift Vouchers, student's work, understanding sourness........ 1
Early Bird Cafe sourdough

More from Rob: “However, in the wholemeal I do add a measurement of rye and spelt to give it a great flavour”. After venting the steam he lets it “crisp up so that I have a medium dark caramel look to top of loaf! As you can see it has a nice lace type texture, but not too lacy! My customers absolutely love our sourdough and have stopped using a major sourdough Baker in town in favour of mine!!!… so really happy about what I learnt in the beginning with you!”

That’s it Panarians. Have a happy Christmas, and I wish you all good baking for 2020,

Paul

Newsletter 52 – 2020 Course dates, students’ work, The Chelsea Bun….

13th November 2019 by Paul Merry

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.

Click here to view the BAKER’S TOPIC – The Chelsea Bun
Newsletter 52 - 2020 Course dates, students' work, The Chelsea Bun.... 2
Folding in the fat/sugar mix

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.

Newsletter 52 - 2020 Course dates, students' work, The Chelsea Bun.... 3
Simon’s pain de campagne

Paul

Newsletter 51 – 5 day residential baking courses, all about kneading……

24th July 2019 by Paul Merry

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.

5 day residential courses at Ashley Court, Devon
The front of Ashley Court, 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.

New for 2019

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/

Click here to view the Baker’s Topic – Kneading dough

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

Newsletter 50 – Stoneground white flour, buy our bread, new half-day Experiences…

17th April 2019 by Paul Merry

April 17, 2019

Dear Panarians,

Another Easter trundles up, this one – like all the others – dominated by the hot cross bun. I also took pleasure in dyeing the red eggs to show students how to make the Greek Easter plaited loaf called tsoureki.

Newsletter 50 - Stoneground white flour, buy our bread, new half-day Experiences... 4
tsoureki

Soon I’m off to France to teach my annual course in Provence. Sad to say, I’m expecting it to be the last one since the owners at Domaine L’Ancienne Ecole have their vineyard on the market.

Calendar

Note the NEW half-day courses called “Experience”

April

  • Mon 29th — 4 Day “PANARY In Provence” (1 places)

May

  • Sat 11th — Open Afternoon – All Welcome 
  • Sun 12th — 1 Day Wood-fired Oven (3 places)
  • Sat 18th — 1 Day Italian (4 places)
  • Sun 19th — 1 Day Sourdough (4 places)
  • Sat 25th — The White Bread Experience (6 places)

June

  • Sat 1st — 1 Day Nordic-Germanic (3 places)
  • Sat 8th — The Focaccia Experience (6 places)
  • Sat 15th — 2 Day French – with Sourdough (4 places)
  • Sat 22nd — The British Bread Experience (6 places)
  • Fri 28th — 3 Day Baking Skills (5 places)

July

  • Sat July 13th – 1-day Basic
  • Sat July 20th – 1-day Sourdough

To view courses and make bookings, visit
https://www.panary.co.uk/course-calendar-and-booking/

Buy Our Bread

We have an online shop for buying our bread made with stoneground flour every Thursday when we bake to stock shops. Our service provides a 24-hour delivery promise.

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Recent Newsletters

  • Newsletter 57 – Gift Vouchers, Christmas baking
  • Newsletter 56 – Hot weather, students’ work, calendar, and working with stoneground flour
  • Newsletter 55 – Covid 19 update, calendar, kugelhopf
  • Newsletter 54 – Covid 19 interruption, the baguette….
  • Newsletter 53 – Gift Vouchers, student’s work, understanding sourness……..
  • Newsletter 52 – 2020 Course dates, students’ work, The Chelsea Bun….
  • Newsletter 51 – 5 day residential baking courses, all about kneading……
  • Newsletter 50 – Stoneground white flour, buy our bread, new half-day Experiences…
  • Newsletter 49 – New courses, autolyse……

Upcoming Baking Courses

  • Saturday 30th of January, 2021 10:00
    1 Day Patisserie and Viennoiserie Course
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PANARY - Teaching Breadmaking Since 1997
Teaching Breadmaking Since 1997
Every PANARY course is taught by Paul Merry, a master craftsman who favours a very practical approach to learning, regardless of any student’s prior experience..

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panary adj [L.panis bread + - ARY] Of or pertaining to bread; p. fermentation