The Baking Profession

Summary

In this video, Chef Brunner of The Bake House and Appetit gives viewers an immersive tour of his bakery, showcasing both the sales and pastry areas. He highlights a variety of baked goods, from breads and pastries to elaborate cakes like Napoleon, tiramisu, and custom birthday cakes. Chef Brunner introduces his daughter Teresa, a sixth-generation baker specializing in wedding cakes, and demonstrates their meticulous preparation techniques. The video also features the bakery’s state-of-the-art equipment, including mixers, ovens, and specialized tools for decorating and baking. Through personal anecdotes and detailed insights, the video celebrates the artistry, tradition, and passion behind this family-run bakery.

Takeaways

• 😀 The bakery, owned by Chef Brunner, specializes in a wide range of baked goods, including bread, pastries, cakes, and more.
• 😀 The sales area features a friendly staff and displays an array of products like cakes, pastries, and breads.
• 😀 Notable pastries include Napoleon (puff pastry with vanilla cream), tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and chocolate peanut butter dome.
• 😀 The bakery also offers cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, and custom birthday cakes, such as a special carrot cake for an 87-year-old.
• 😀 The bakery's pastry department is led by Theresa, the sixth-generation baker, who handles wedding cakes and intricate pastry work.
• 😀 The bakery features various specialized equipment, including a large airbrush machine for decorating fancy cakes and marble countertops for fondant work.
• 😀 The bakery uses a variety of mixers, including a 240-quart Italian mixer, for large-scale dough preparation and mixing.
• 😀 A 2000-watt mixer is used for creating batters and doughs, while a do-divider helps to divide dough into 25 even portions.
• 😀 The bakery's oven setup includes a convection rack oven, ideal for pastries like danishes and cookies, and an Italian hearth oven for deeper baking needs.
• 😀 Chef Brunner highlights the bakery’s strong family heritage, with tables and workbenches passed down from previous generations, reflecting a long tradition of craftsmanship.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Chef Brunner's bakery?

Chef Brunner's bakery, 'The Bake House and Appetit,' specializes in a variety of baked goods, including pastries, cakes, and breads, with a focus on high-quality, handmade products.

What types of baked goods can customers expect to see in the sales area?

In the sales area, customers will find an assortment of baked products including bread, pastries like Napoleons, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, chocolate peanut butter domes, cream puffs, and eclairs, as well as cakes like carrot cake for special occasions.

Who is in charge of the pastry department at the bakery?

Teresa, Chef Brunner's daughter, is in charge of the pastry department. She is the sixth generation of bakers in the family and handles all the wedding cakes.

What is the Napoleon, and how is it prepared?

The Napoleon is a puff pastry filled with vanilla cream. The pastry layers are made with puff pastry and a diplomat cream, which is a combination of whipped cream and pastry cream.

How does Chef Brunner describe the workbench and equipment used in the bakery?

The workbench and equipment in the bakery are passed down through generations. Chef Brunner mentions a custom-made wooden bench, which was crafted by him when the bakery opened, as well as other pieces like rolling pins, an airbrush machine for cake decorating, and specialized equipment for fondant work.

What role does the 'Italian mixer' play in the bakery's operations?

The Italian mixer, which holds up to 240 quarts, is used to mix large quantities of dough, such as for bread. It mimics the motion of a baker's hands, efficiently mixing dough for a variety of bakery products.

What is the function of the proof box in the bakery?

The proof box controls heat and humidity, ensuring that dough pieces rise at the correct temperature and moisture levels, which is crucial for consistent and high-quality baking results.

How does the convection rack oven benefit the bakery?

The convection rack oven allows the bakery to roll in and out entire carts filled with baked goods, making it especially useful for baking danishes, cookies, and other items that require consistent heat distribution.

What is the Italian hearth oven used for, and how is it different from the other ovens?

The Italian hearth oven is used for baking bread and other items that require deep, stone-blind steam-injected heat. It is a high-end oven, valued at $70,000, and has four deep decks that allow for baking multiple items at once.

What is the significance of the family’s history in the bakery's equipment and atmosphere?

The bakery’s equipment and atmosphere reflect the Brunner family's rich baking heritage. Chef Brunner highlights how family members have passed down various pieces of equipment, such as the workbenches and mixers, making them integral parts of the bakery's operations.