...and while I'm here at my blog, can I just take a minute to moan about my recent bakery purchases?
I have bought my bread, and other assorted bakery products for the past 5 or 6 years, week in & week out, at Jackman & McRoss. I intermingle this with Jean-Pascals, but always return to J&M. My usual loaf (White Casalinga) has slowly escalated in price over the years but I've been OK with that. It's life.
What I am moaning about is the fact that it seems to me that the original flavours which attracted me to those foodstuffs seem to be much watered down now. When I bite with much-awaited anticipation into a pie from J&M these days, it lets me down. If it were the first time I had one, I'd probably be impressed but for old "hands" like myself, they seem to lack the original 'guts' they used to have. The same seems true of JP's food.
I have assumed it was just my aging tastebuds, and haven't paid too much heed to such personal negativity, but yesterday I sent 2 workmates into JP's for their lunch, promising culinary delights which would transport them to heaven and back! It didn't! They came back complaining about the general tastelessness of what they had. The same happened two weeks ago with other people. I'm loosing my credibility fast!
As I always say, it's all subjective, but having my thoughts validated by others of different ages and tastes was interesting.
Saturday, 18 August 2007
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17 comments:
Rita, I really agree. Rare to buy "sour" sourdough these days. Have to keep resorting to home made.
Rita,
The service, the food, the taste and the coffee has continually been declining at JP's. I give them the benefit of the doubt so many times, however it appears they cant even keep up with giving the customer product or choice, as so many times I have been there and they have either run out or the shelves are half bare. Its a shame, it started so well. I hear the staff dont enjoy working there, could be having management issues?
HB
Hi Rita!
I've been to JP's in Bellerive a few times and the food has always been pretty good, but I think the service has usually (if not always)been pretty crappy.
The first time I went there it had only been open for 2 or 3 weeks and they were really busy, BUT we were treated with disdain I thought. And there's always lots of yummy things at the counter which aren't on the menu so I want to linger and choose what I want but am usually glared at impatiently so shuffle back to the table...not good!
BUT every time I've been JP's in New Town the service has been gorgeous and welcoming...go figure. Maybe because it's smaller and not as busy.
Have you been to Salt in Moonah yet?
Lynsey
summer kitchen is the only true bread in hobart. the starter is 40 years old. forget the rest, they are shithouse!!
Big call anon 11.52
There are quite a few excellent bakers in hobart.
Summer kitchen's bread could be better if they didn't wrap it in plastic. Plus the place is FILTHY!
I will take my tall silly white hat off to all bakers. Its a harder and more precise job than its often given credit for. I can not comment on Jackman & McRoss; simply because I have little time to go there often enough. However, for a recommendation that I here no one else mention, try the bush bakery. Why? If you want to see the open kitchen style and watch the whole process, its there to see. The pastries are as honest and consistent as you will find, and totally delicious. Pies ain't bad either, not gourmet, just wholesome and true. I just think they deserve a mention.
Kitty - start up your home bakery & we'll be there!
HB - I haven't heard anything about staffing issues at JP but agree about the declining standards.
Lynsey - no, I haven't been to Salt in Moonah yet. Have you?
Anons - I haven't had Summer Kitchen bread so can't comment on it.
Cartouche - I wholeheartedly agree about Bush Bakery. I love them and their whole ethos. Pity I just don't get down there very often. They have the best Vanilla Squares too.
Where is Summer kitchen bakery?
Also haven't been to Salt yet, but as it's out our way I'm determined to investigate.
Went to Nando's for lunch today with the kids. I'm less than impressed. Won't be returning, but the kids loved it.
Good question about the Summer Kitchen bakery Christina. I'm hazy on that question too. What's that bakery out in New Town Rd? Opposite the chemist/newsagency? Is that it?
The Summer Kitchen is in Ranelaigh in the Huon Valley.
The the bakery who took out the best bread at the show this weekend was the one with unpronouncable & spellable name at Yorktown
My big complaint about JP's currently is that they never seem to have ANY peite fours avaliable. Though last time I went in looking for sour dough New Town didnt have any, so they rang West Hobart who stayed open until I could get over there to pick up a loaf.
Mate of mine had JPs do a croche en bouche (sp?) for his 40's. I didnt eat any of the actual cake BUT the sugar syrup and filling was to die for. Also ALOT cheaper apparently then Golden Tulip et al.
J&M has been going down hill steadly since they closed the New Town bakery and turned it into a cafe and nothing else in my opinion. Though mum reckons their mince pies at Christmas are to die for - but shes from Brissy.
Summer Kitchen really have to get rid of that plastic wrapping. It ruins the crust and make the bread all soft and chewy.
They deliver Tuesdays and Fridays to the likes ff Merediths at Margate and Fresh at Kingston.
Bush Bakery doesn't have bread on some days, can't remember which. I think they only do bread Saturdays.
Or maybe it's Satrurday they don't do it. That's why I couldn't be arsed going often, the uncertainty of it all.
Sir Grumpy
PS the missus says it only saurday you can get bread there..........Sir G.
looking at the actual product, barring the wrapping ( yes it is important!!) the quality of summer kitchens is very high. you have to take into account the structure of the bread, the crumb and the fact that you can toast their sourdoughs a week after baking and they are still fantastic. the plastic has to go,but the integrity of the bread is second to none in hobart. what makes it all the more certain is the dough is naturally leavened, not mechanically, with brewers yeast (i.e JP and jackman + mc ross)
as for hygiene, it's far cleaner than some bakeries featured in a recent gourmet as australia's best bakeries. it''s at it's best sat morning's at salamanca from the caravan........in paper bags!!!!
Yes anon, I forgot that my wife's purchase of Summer Kitchen loaves are toasted every morning and are great that way.
So the plastic chewiness is not a factor there.
I think Elaine reeves of The Mercury has written them up and I've never heard a bad word about them.
Sir Grumpy
Great!! Going to Salamanca this weekend. Will keep my eye out for the caravan. Hubby and I had decided that this year, as a Christmas present to each other, we would spend some time in the Huon area. As luck would have it, not long after, Gobbler posted his Channel ansd Huon crawl. That is now our plan for a week or so over the New year, and I can't wait. So maybe we can check out the bakery while we are there. Thanks for the hot tips.
We tried to get in at the bakery with no luck christina.
I don't think it opens to the public as the baking is done overnight by the small team. We tried years ago to no avail.
Pity, a shop at the bakery would be great and get rid of the plastic wrap.
I'd ring them first because that little detour behine Huonville, while pretty, might not be a bread end. (ouch)
Sir Grumpy
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