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From Four Until Late

… I was wringin my hands and cryin

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In fact, I actually woke up at 2:25 (2:26?) this morning since we start the bake earlier on Fridays!  I take exactly 20 minutes to get ready, then hop on my bike for the 30 min, 5.3 mile ride.  It’s pretty peaceful in the morning and a great wake-up:

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Arriving at 3:15, I clock in, grab a few utensils, and immediately start making doughs.  After about 45 minutes I get some free time and that’s when it’s time for some breakfast!  Sometimes I’ll have a piece of fruit, or some toast with PB, but sometimes I eat a fresh-outta-the-oven muffin!  Carrot Raisin Walnut today!

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EVERY baked good is better with butter… "butta is betta"  SAY IT!

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Then it’s onto my second vice, delicious iced coffee.

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Served in my OXO cup.  This thing is amazing at holding temps on drinks, but you have to get the one with the metal interior… the plastic ones just don’t work that well.

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I usually have two cups of coffee in the morning – I always want a third, but the times I’ve poured it, it just doesn’t taste that good and my stomach hurts a little.  I switch to water for the rest of the day at this point (until beer time!).

Here’s all the sweets after baking, ready to transfer to the sweets case up front (for your drooling pleasure).

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I love how the sun rises so early in the summer.

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By the time we’re putting bread on the table, it’s already shinning bright!

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One of the first breads we make on Friday is challah.  Lightly sweetened, eggy, and a little nutty, it makes great french toast.  Here are the shaped loaves about to go in the oven.

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I like this bread okay – it’s kinda pancake/waffley but overall a little simple.  REALLY tasty straight from the oven, though.

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What’d I say about butter earlier?  Unsalted of course.

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Here we are kneading Caitlin‘s new favorite bread, Cinnamon Chip.

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Shaped, sprinkled, and slashed loaves proofing before the bake:

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And then afterwards!

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Sometime during the morning I’ll get a little sourdough snack, like from the mini scraps of dough that are left after we weigh out the loaves.

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Today for lunch I went with the bakery classic – hella melted cheese on some bread!  I cut a couple slices off some Rosemary Garlic bread.

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And then topped with lotsa cheese hunks, black pepper, dried garlic, and basil.

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Pop that sucker in the oven (remember what I said about hot sandwiches?)

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And 20 minutes later you have a gooey mess of deliciousness.

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"Top with some fresh veg" as Jaime Oliver likes to say.  Red bell pepper and romaine in this case.

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And then you ride home!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says

    Wow! 2.25!!?? What time do you go to bed!? I’d have had 2 hrs sleep if I got up when you do….
    Working in a bakery looks fun though; I’d love to do it 🙂
    Good post!

    Reply

  2. maxinthegym says

    How do you get up so early! What time do you sleep?!
    All that bread looks delicious! I don’t know how you don’t just eat everything…I know I would.
    😀

    Reply

  4. Lori says

    Love it. That bread looks so good. I run in the mornings at 5am and I love it, best time of the day. Sometimes I bike to where we meet to run. I like early but I don’t know about 2:30am every day. But the job looks like fun. Thanks for taking over at lunch today.

    Reply

  7. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says

    What an awesome post! It would be soooo tough for me to be around all that bread and not eat everything I see! Yum!

    Reply

  8. Heather says

    You had me at bread. Umm I just salivated all over my laptop. Just discovered your blog through another one. I just started a food blog yesterday and would love for you to check it out and drop me a line! Looking forward to reading more from you 🙂

    Reply

  10. Lauren says

    Honestly, I feel like I can’t lunch compete with what’s posted on here, ever, because I can’t find such marvelous bread, and have it fresh, all the time! So jealous!

    Reply

  11. Bethany @ More Fruit Please says

    I love the insider’s look at the bakery! A bike ride that early in the morning does sound peaceful! Are you ever afraid though of your safety with other cars not being on the lookout for bikers at that time of morning?

    Reply

    • the husband says

      I have an INSANELY bright, irregularly blinking light on my bike… you can see it for over a mile away. And I actually feel safer at night than on the ride home, purely because of the volume of cars.

      Reply

  13. Therese says

    You certainly know the way to a woman’s heart: CARBS!!!!!!!!

    *faints*

    Can I work in your new bakery? I don’t mind being paid in bread…

    Reply

  15. Sarah Jayne says

    Mindblowing everytime 🙂
    ALMOST inspires me to attempt to become more of a morning person….!

    And can we talk about how ridiculous your sandwich looks? Gahhh!

    Reply

  16. Wei-Wei says

    I love love love this post! It’s so awesome to see a bakery behind the scenes… and a post by Matt is always appreciated 🙂

    Wei-Wei

    Reply

  17. Cynthia (It All Changes) says

    The hat makes the perfect outfit!

    I used to work at an Auntie Anne’s pretzel and we loved the little leftover nuggets made into our own mini pretzels.

    Reply

  18. Sarah says

    Yum! I loved this mini-description of what goes on at the Great Harvest bakery. I wouldn’t mind if we had one of those near me! (The closest one is 45-50 minutes away.)

    Reply

  19. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says

    Oh bread…how sweet you are! I am not going to share this great post with my husband…who can’t have bread! I will enjoy the loaves all to myself! I bet it smells like heaven in there! I used to work at a bakery when I was in culinary school. I will never forget how great it smelled! Enjoy your afternoon!

    Reply

  20. Marilou @ Mostly Healthy says

    Woah! Nice to finally know your routine!

    You do eat a lot of bread – carbheaven! 🙂

    Do you have a light on your bike?

    Reply

  22. Dorry says

    This is SO awesome. I really enjoyed the insight into a baker’s life! I would happily nibble on different types of bread all day.

    Reply

  23. Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches says

    I loved this behind-the-scenes look at Great Harvest! Soooooo cool. I really need to get my hands on some bread from our local chain here. All the bread looks fantastic. Great post, Matt! And it must be noted, that sandwich looks absolutely mouth-watering. Droool….

    Reply

  25. Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! says

    I love this post! I’ve always wanted to work in a bakery (with the hope I wouldn’t expand to 400 pounds due to my love of complex carbohydrates!). I’d love to see more “behind the scenes” posts.

    Reply

  26. Sarah says

    all of that bread looks so amazing!! i just googled the closet location actually so i can go! haha mmmm garlic bread!

    Reply

  27. claire says

    what an amazing job/experience. I love hearing about bakers routines after watching anthony bourdain travel around europe and getting up early to head to the bakeries. It all looks great too…think I will head to our local GH today!

    Reply

  28. Mara @ What's for Dinner? says

    Challah french toast is quite possibly one of the best things ever… you should give it a try 🙂

    Reply

  29. JENNA says

    i wish i worked at great harvest!! the bread looks amazing and I cant’ wait for ya all to open up in cville!! HURRY UP !!!!!!!!! 😉

    OXO cups are awesome! I love mine so much and have had it for 3 years! it still works great even if it is alittle banged up from those crazy morning i go speeding down the drive and forget its still on the roof of the car….oppsies… it has taken many hits against the pavement and is still holding up great!

    Reply

  30. Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says

    This is such a cool look into the life of a baker! Especially at my very favorite bakery! I can’t believe you wake up so early, but it looks like you get off relatively early in comparison to 9-5 workers.

    Reply

  31. Jess says

    Need any part time workers in your new bakery?!! And no I’m not kidding! Mike and I would love it!

    Cville Jess

    Reply

  33. Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl says

    LOVED reading about your bakery routine, Matt! I can really sense your passion for what you do – awesomeness!!! 😀

    Reply

  34. Mastering Public Health says

    Awesome post; very cool insider/behind-the-scenes “sneak-peek.” Tiring, but rewarding. I’ll bet bread’s not on your dinner menu! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  36. Rachel says

    And now I want to work at a bakery. That looked ridiculously fun.

    The hours would take some adjustment though. What time do you get off work and when do you go to bed?

    Reply

    • the husband says

      I’m usually off by noon and depending on when I have to wake up, I usually go to bed around 8-8:30. Sometimes when I’m really tired towards the end of the week, I’ll go to sleep at 7!

      Still, I definitely am slightly sleep deprived throughout the week, and then make it up on the weekend.

      Reply

  37. Veronica @ Navy Wife on a Diet says

    how do you get your muffins so big and domed like that? Do you use baking powder or soda? or a combination of the two? I’m a good baker, but my muffins never turn out glorious like that. Please share!

    Reply

    • the husband says

      We do use both chemical leaveners in our muffins, but every muffin is different. These have a LOT of egg in them, so it has a proteinous structure that’s suitable to expansion and then setting. Some of our other muffins are just a little rounded on top.

      Also, starting the bake at a higher temp for 15 minutes and then cutting back will increase oven spring. But most of all, you just have to play with it.

      Reply

      • Dynamics says

        Wow! You really understand the whole process. Thanks for enlightening me/us. I really would love you to send me some cinnamon chip bread. Pleassseeeeeee!

        Reply

  39. Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life says

    HOLY CARB HEAVEN!!! I don’t know if I could ever work in a place like that without gaining 50lbs!
    The cinnamon chip loaf looks to die for!!! 😀

    Reply

  42. Laura @ youngDCliving says

    Wow! Being around all that great food everyday must be SO tempting. I wish you had a Great Harvest near me, I absolutely love fresh good bread.

    I have an OXO travel mug as well! But unfortunately it’s the one w/o the metal interior. I still like it though, because I can pretty much drop it on anything and it will not break. But it’s not great at holding the temperature for that long.

    Reply

  44. RhodeyGirl says

    YAY! YOU HAVEN’T POSTED IN SO LONG!!!!!

    Love this post- I can’t believe how simple and natural you make it all seem!

    Reply

  46. Becky says

    Oh man I would pay $ to have your metabolism! Muffin for breakfast and cheese sammie for lunch…I think I just gained 5lbs thinking about eating that 🙂
    Looks like a fun job!

    Reply

    • the husband says

      You gotta remember I bike 11 miles per day and work on my feet the entire time… HARD, physical work. Metabolism has nothing to do with it, it’s just the amount of activity!

      Reply

      • Lyndsey @ I'm Lyndsey says

        I used to work at a bakery when I was 20 (yeah not so fun being there at 5 am at that age) but yes it is hard work!! After an 8 hour shift and going to the gym, I could basically consume a buttload (how classy of me) of food without gaining! Man I miss those days..lol

        Reply

  49. ari says

    i love it when matt posts. also, maybe i just haven’t seen butter in a really long time since i’m a vegan, but that butter looks so incredibly white. sort of like whipped cream.

    Reply

  50. Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says

    This makes me want to work in a bakery…the thought of all that delicious bread straight from the oven sounds like heaven!!

    Reply

  52. Sarah (OC2Seattle) says

    WOW. Super impressed with your ability to get up that early and actually sleep before – I probably wouldn’t sleep at all. So with you on toasty cheese sandwiches – they are the best!

    Reply

  53. lee says

    I love the photo article of your work day – how fun! (Of course, it helps that the pictures are pretty, too.) I was especially happy to see the yummy-looking pictures of the challah bread. Warm challah bread is, for me, a lovely and divine treat that I hardly ever get (due to the sad lack of any bakery nearby that bakes it). Thanks for the tease. =)

    Reply

  54. Helen says

    OMG you have such a busy routine, how do you stay sane?? I love the inside look into your bakery. I would actually sell my belongings to work in a bakery, do you need any more workers?!! You are brave to cycle at night but I can see how peaceful it must be. Make sure you get some sleep this evening!

    Reply

  55. Diana @ frontyardfoodie says

    I’m not much for bread most of the time (makes me feel bloated!) but this looks amazing.

    2:26? hahahahahah. Funny. You’re a trooper!

    Reply

  56. Annie @ stronghealthyfit says

    Cute post, Matt! I wish I had you and Kath’s discipline when it comes to going to bed early!

    Reply

  59. Sydney says

    2:25?! Holy cow that is early! And I used to think I had it bad having to wake up at 4:00 for swim practice. Well, now that I think about it…. I’d probably rather wake up at 2:25 and go to a warm bakery than wake up at 4:00 and jump in a freezing cold pool!

    Reply

  60. Ashley@thehungryscholar says

    I actually bought bread there today (well, a different location), so this post was quite perfect for today. I appreciate–even more–the hard work that goes into making such delicious bread.

    Reply

  61. Sarah Snacks says

    WOW girl- you are so brave riding that bike in the dark practically in the middle of the night! I’m way too chicken to do that, LOL! Oh that bread looks so yummy- it’s making me HUNGRY!!

    Reply

  62. R @ learningasichop.wordpress.com says

    Agree about challah french toast. We make it about twice a month in our house

    Reply

  63. Belinda says

    Yummy post! I love fresh bread. There is a Great Harvest in my aunt and uncle’s town. We are going to visit them next week…and buy bread from Great Harvest, of course! Best of luck with your bakery. 🙂

    Reply

  65. SallyH @ acountablelife.wordpress.com says

    I think this proves that carbs are not evil and one should never eschew the bread. Yum! That’s the great thing about biking to and from work and also working on your feet. Thanks for the fun post~

    Reply

  66. Sam says

    Yum. Can I come work for you? I miss working in a bakery & although I make tons of stuff at home it is not the same.

    Reply

  68. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    It took me a while to realize this wasn’t Kath writing this post!! I was thinking “wait..she works in the bakery, too?!” hahaha! Ok, ok. All that bread looks delicious!! I want to try to cinnamon chip. mmmmmm You have me drooling over here!

    Reply

  69. Sarah R says

    Thanks for the inside look at the baker’s day! So much fun! Can’t wait to see what having your own bakery will be like!

    Reply

  70. M says

    Ok Matt you are an awesome blogger/writer !
    Hope you will start a blog all about running your biz or something,
    loved this post!

    Must be long term rough on your body such early hours,unless you keep consistent on the weekend too?I keep reading how changing sleeping hours during the week longterm is tough on health…but you look mighty healthy and dare I say happy?

    You and Kath are going to have some adorable bambinos someday 😉

    Reply

  71. Laura says

    WOW. i’d LOVE to work somewhere like this! i bet the smell is absolutely amazing and some of those bakes look DELISH!!!

    Reply

  74. Alex says

    So… Are people still pretending that carbs *make* you fat? Too much food, and not enough movement does a pretty good job of that, whether you’re eating steak, cheese, bread, chocolate, whatever. Use your glycogen, work your muscles, eat enough (and enjoy it!) to be satisfied but not more.

    Reply

    • the husband says

      Agreed! Bread is delicious, and should be eaten often.

      My wife knows more about this, but your body needs those carbs in much greater quantities than fats or protein, so eat ’em up. The more activity you do, the more bread you get to eat. And if it’s whole grain, all the better.

      Reply

  75. Danielle (Runs on Green) says

    omg 2:25 is not morning- it’s still nighttime! People are still at the club lol

    I liked the guest post 😀

    Reply

  77. Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says

    I love GH. I get up at 3:15am to get ready to go to work at Starbucks, so I understand. But it gives you all the time in the afternoon.

    Reply

  79. MelanieF says

    Great work Matt! I know you work hard and wake up early, but that all good when you love what you are doing! 🙂

    Reply

  80. Sarah @ cocoanutshakes says

    OK this looks like the most delicious morning of all time. Excellent bread choices and toppings =)

    Reply

  81. Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says

    Fun change. Thanks for the post, Matt. Wish I could eat that much fresh bread without gaining an ounce – mmmm.

    Reply

  82. Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life says

    Rosemary Garlic looks A-MA-ZING!!! I would go crazy (a delicious, gluttonous, happy crazy) working in a bakery with all that amazing bread :)!

    Reply

  84. Hannah says

    Love these guest posts! And omg, cinnamon chip bread?! We don’t even have cinnamon chips in Australia… wanna change your plan and open a Great Harvest Down Under instead? 😀

    Reply

  85. Kel says

    I loved this! Now I really appreciate what my local Great Harvest does to make my favorite High 5 Fiber!

    Butta definitely makes everything betta!

    Reply

  86. lynn (The Actors Diet) says

    sounds like we’ve had the same kinda day – LONG! i love challah – i bet it’s great straight outa the oven.

    Reply

  87. Following Julie says

    I was secretly hoping you’d pick Orlando, FL to open a bakery. We are in DIRE NEED of quality baked goods. Anybody else reading this blog interesetd in opening a Great Harvest? Come to Orlando, please!

    Reply

  88. Amber K says

    Baking bread smells amazing! Although my husband used to work in a bakery and he would not come home smelling so nice. =P

    Reply

  89. Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    I am salivating!! BREAD HEAVEN, OMG! 😀 I was swooning over the cinna-chip bread when Caitlin had it this week, it looks amazing! I’d be nibbling all day, lol. Oh, and that cheese sandwich– YUMMMMMMMM.

    Jenn

    PS. Love the hat, Dustin wears fedoras too.

    Reply

  90. Eileen says

    Hi Matt. You’re the coolest!

    In years of cooking, I don’t know why I never thought to put *spices* on cheese before melting it. That sandwich looks incredible. Thanks for the great guest post!

    Reply

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