Watch

This Baker Takes Artisan to a New Level

Creator:
Published:
February 15, 2024
January 27, 2020
Learn to take risks by following this artisan's example.|Learn to take risks by following this artisan's example.

Lauren Barry is the owner of The Elder Bread, an artisan bakery in South Bend, Indiana. She is also the sole operator, which means she runs the counter, makes deliveries, buys ingredients — not to mention makes every recipe from scratch.

"Everybody loves food. You kind of get that special excitement when you're about to eat a warm cookie or a warm loaf of bread."

Video Transcript

Meet Lauren, a baker in South Bend, Indiana.

Lauren Barry: Okay. So I'm going to do the next stretch.

All right. Hey, what's up?

Customer: How you doing?

Lauren: How may I help you?

Customer: I just came to buy all your snacks.

Lauren: Oh, all my snacks?

Customer: All your snacks.

Lauren: That's cool.

Customer: I'll take a cinnamon roll.

Lauren: A cinnamon roll? All right. To go, or for here?

Everybody loves food. You kind of get that special excitement when you're about to eat a warm cookie or a warm loaf of bread. You're just like (exhales). I get really excited.

Lauren is the sole owner and operator of The Elder Bread. She makes everything from scratch. 

I don't really ever have a plan. I don't know. I just kind of went for it. I just go for things.

(She’s holding an extension cord bound with duct tape.) I fixed it. I’m an electrician, too.

(Lauren is shown mixing ingredients and pouring water into a container of dough.) 

This gets more hydration because rye… needs it. You want the salt to be integrated into it, but you don't want to be too rough with the bread. Which — you say knead? I don't knead bread. I don't “need” bread. Yeah, I don't knead it.

Maybe other people had that magical moment, but I was just making bread because I was bored and just started selling it. I'm like, "Well, I'll just start making more stuff." And then I just started selling that, too. And then I guess opportunities kind of just arose for me.

There's no one else here. You know, I'm the delivery girl. If I need ingredients, I gotta go to the store — gotta leave, sorry.

Man, I'm scared every day, you know? It's good to be like that. I think if I wasn't scared, that'd be a problem.

(She’s holding a split loaf of freshly baked bread.)

It's beautiful. I like to put my face in it and smell.

(She’s showing a small recipe book.)

It's the book of secrets. Here's all my recipes — not like all of them ever, but it's the ones I make here. And my daughter has to write her name on everything.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
February 15, 2024
January 27, 2020
On a related note...
How I Overcame Fear of Commitment in My Career

How I Overcame Fear of Commitment in My Career

Molly Cruitt

Why I'm Grateful for a Community That Challenges Me

Why I'm Grateful for a Community That Challenges Me

Kelly Sankowski

5 Ways to Make the Most of the Fall Season

5 Ways to Make the Most of the Fall Season

Lillian Fallon

Kombucha Brewer Takes Holistic Health Approach

Kombucha Brewer Takes Holistic Health Approach

Grotto

"Living Water"

"Living Water"

Judith Sornberger

Losing Patience With This Pandemic? Take Up These Habits

Losing Patience With This Pandemic? Take Up These Habits

Katie Faley

This Saint Found Peace During Quarantine — So Can We

This Saint Found Peace During Quarantine — So Can We

John Tuttle

How to Handle Inappropriate Comments at Work

How to Handle Inappropriate Comments at Work

Caitlan Rangel

First Day of Winter Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

First Day of Winter Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

DACA Recipient Who Can’t Vote Encourages Others Who Can

DACA Recipient Who Can’t Vote Encourages Others Who Can

Grotto

5 Priceless Gifts We Forget To Give

5 Priceless Gifts We Forget To Give

Lillian Fallon

How to Hack Your To-Do List to Find More Time

How to Hack Your To-Do List to Find More Time

Molly Gettinger

Free Download: Financial Checklist for College Students

Free Download: Financial Checklist for College Students

Grotto

Holding Onto God’s Unfailing Love — Even Through Terminal Illness

Holding Onto God’s Unfailing Love — Even Through Terminal Illness

Catherine Griffin

What’s the Point of Abstract Art? Maybe It’s How it Works on our Hearts

What’s the Point of Abstract Art? Maybe It’s How it Works on our Hearts

Grace Spiewak

3 Mary-Inspired Resolutions to Set (& Keep) This Year

3 Mary-Inspired Resolutions to Set (& Keep) This Year

Krista Steele

"Learning to Live With Not Knowing ‘Why’"

"Learning to Live With Not Knowing ‘Why’"

Megan Toal

5 Tips For Living on a Tight Budget Without Feeling the Pinch

5 Tips For Living on a Tight Budget Without Feeling the Pinch

Sophie Caldecott

Why Has ‘Star Wars’ Resonated for 40 Years?

Why Has ‘Star Wars’ Resonated for 40 Years?

Fr. Matt Kuczora, CSC

17 Ideas for Giving Back This Holiday Season

17 Ideas for Giving Back This Holiday Season

Emily Mae Mentock

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.