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The Power of a Pandemic Pivot with Bunhead Bakery's Sara Assad-Mannings
In this episode, I sits down with Sara Assad-Mannings, the co-owner of Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill. Specializing in sourdough buns that blend traditional baking with vibrant Palestinian flavours, Sara’s creations tell a story of home, culture, and resilience. Sara shares her journey from working in TV to launching a beloved bakery during the pandemic, and discusses how she explores her Palestinian-British identity through the rich and flavourful food she creates.
Key Takeaways
- Food as a Gateway to Identity: Sara explains how creating BunHead gave her the confidence to explore and take ownership of her Palestinian heritage, connecting with her identity through ingredients like allspice and sumac.
- The Power of a Pandemic Pivot: Sara's journey into professional baking began after a planned job fell through at the start of the 2020 lockdown. This led her to create what would become a successful business, starting with sourdough deliveries from her dad's house.
- Community is Built Through Sharing: From memories of large, communal family meals in Palestine to the design of her own supper clubs, Sara believes food is a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering connection.
- A Balanced Approach to Flavour: Disliking overly sweet baked goods, Sara focuses on creating a sophisticated balance in her buns. Her use of salt and complex spices results in bakes that perfectly hit the spot between sweet and savoury.
Episode Highlights:
- 01:52 - Sara discusses her Palestinian-British heritage.
- 04:50 - The story of how the 2020 pandemic lockdown led to the birth of BunHead Bakery.
- 12:05 - Sara breaks down her signature bun flavours, each representing a different part of her life and heritage.
- 27:15 - Sara shares food memories from visiting Palestine, highlighting communal eating and her love for a traditional breakfast.
- 32:08 - Sara reveals the three ingredients she could not live without and how they connect to her identity.
About the Guest
- Instagram: @bunheadbakery
- Website: https://www.bunheadbakery.com
Episode Links
- Za'atar: Yaffa
- Palestinian Olive Oil: Zaytoun & Othmana
Connect with Dixie:
Instagram: @dixierocksfood
Website: https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/
Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ).
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.
Connect with Dixie:
Instagram: @dixierocksfood
Website: https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/
Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
View all episodes
By Dixie Fingal-Rock InnesIn this episode, I sits down with Sara Assad-Mannings, the co-owner of Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill. Specializing in sourdough buns that blend traditional baking with vibrant Palestinian flavours, Sara’s creations tell a story of home, culture, and resilience. Sara shares her journey from working in TV to launching a beloved bakery during the pandemic, and discusses how she explores her Palestinian-British identity through the rich and flavourful food she creates.
Key Takeaways
- Food as a Gateway to Identity: Sara explains how creating BunHead gave her the confidence to explore and take ownership of her Palestinian heritage, connecting with her identity through ingredients like allspice and sumac.
- The Power of a Pandemic Pivot: Sara's journey into professional baking began after a planned job fell through at the start of the 2020 lockdown. This led her to create what would become a successful business, starting with sourdough deliveries from her dad's house.
- Community is Built Through Sharing: From memories of large, communal family meals in Palestine to the design of her own supper clubs, Sara believes food is a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering connection.
- A Balanced Approach to Flavour: Disliking overly sweet baked goods, Sara focuses on creating a sophisticated balance in her buns. Her use of salt and complex spices results in bakes that perfectly hit the spot between sweet and savoury.
Episode Highlights:
- 01:52 - Sara discusses her Palestinian-British heritage.
- 04:50 - The story of how the 2020 pandemic lockdown led to the birth of BunHead Bakery.
- 12:05 - Sara breaks down her signature bun flavours, each representing a different part of her life and heritage.
- 27:15 - Sara shares food memories from visiting Palestine, highlighting communal eating and her love for a traditional breakfast.
- 32:08 - Sara reveals the three ingredients she could not live without and how they connect to her identity.
About the Guest
- Instagram: @bunheadbakery
- Website: https://www.bunheadbakery.com
Episode Links
- Za'atar: Yaffa
- Palestinian Olive Oil: Zaytoun & Othmana
Connect with Dixie:
Instagram: @dixierocksfood
Website: https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/
Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ).
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.
Connect with Dixie:
Instagram: @dixierocksfood
Website: https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/
Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.