Autumn is my favourite.  It’s probably most people’s favourite.  The colours, the utter JOY of autumn sunshine, crisp walks in the park, inappropriately cold picnics, and flavours.

Pumpkin Cake

250g Caster Sugar
320g Canola/Rapeseed/sunflower oil
3 x Large Eggs
380g Plain Flour
1.5 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Salt
1 can pumpkin puree

1.  Mix sugar and oil thoroughly
2.  Add eggs one at a time and mix
3.  Add dry ingredients and mix
4.  Add pumpkin puree and mix

Bake at 180 degrees for about an hour, and a skewer comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Sarah x

We love working with Lap, aka @oishinboy, aka The Foodist, aka lover. However he’s normally banned from the bakery – bread is about the only thing Lap can’t do and we’d rather it stayed that way, for the safety of all of our future food careers.

Next week though he’s part of the bakery family – he’s going to be banging out loads of his signature macarons, as well as a stack of his favourite sweet delights. You can read all about Laps love-affair with macarons on his foodist blog. The full menu is looking like this:

We look forward to seeing you!

Hello!

We will be closed next week! (August 24th – 31st)  So this is a note to say, PANIC BUY BREAD.

We will be closed for the week to do a bit of DIY and recipe development.

Some bread experiments will be happening in the week – which means SOME bread will be available in the afternoons…. your best bet is to look through the window, if you see bread – knock the door!  Or have a look at twitter (@loafonline) – we will tweet if bread is coming!

We will be open as usual on September 1st at 12noon ready for lunch and to replenish your bread needs.

Sorry for any inconviennce.

The Loaf Team x

This Thursday, 20th August, come down to Loaf for some fishy Thai treats! See poster for details, today (Tuesday) is your last day for Lobster reservations!

Unfortunately due to ill-health, this Thursday ‘s (23rd July) Stirchley-on-Sea is postponed until the 20th August.

We’ll have the same or a very simlar menu then!

Sorry for any inconvenience, T.

***Postponed until 20th August due to ill health***

It’s time for Stirchley-on-Sea #6, and this time we’re heading to Thailand for some fishy treats. Hope to sea you there…

Businesses in the areas of Stirchley, Bournville, Cotteridge, and Kings Norton are currently being asked to vote for or against the formation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the area. If the BID is approved by the vote then every business will have a percentage “˜levy’ added onto their business rates which will go into the creation of a new company that is managed by a board of directors elected by businesses to spend on improvements and/or changes to the high street and local environment.

As a value driven company we have thought long and hard about the pros and cons of a BID being formed in the area and have discussed as a cooperative how we will vote. We feel it is right to let our customers know that we will vote against the formation of a BID, and explain briefly why.

Firstly it is right to acknowledge that a BID can certainly bring some material benefits to an area, but it is our firm belief that these material benefits can be achieved in the absence of a BID as well. The development in Stirchley High Street and Stirchley’s cultural life over the last five years is proof of this. Companies and organisations like Birmingham Bike Foundry, South Birmingham Food Coop, Stirchley Stores, Stirchley Market, Stirchley Wines and Spirits, Stirchley Happenings, Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum, Stirchley United Club, the Stirchley Baths committee, Stirchley Park, Love Stirchley, Super Stirchley, Loaf, Birmingham City Council’s Town Centre Manager, Kings Norton Farmers Market and many others have contributed to a vibrant cultural life and community atmosphere in the area. This grassroots regeneration is not dependent on a BID. It is possible that a BID in the area will actually hamper these grassroots activities through a top down approach. Of course this is dependent on the attitude of the BID committee and there could be a positive effect too, but the history of relationships between the Lifford Business Association and some of the organisations listed above does not give us hope.

Secondly, our opposition to the BID is an idealogical one. We believe that our high streets are public spaces and should remain so, particularly when they are located in residential neighbourhoods. A BID is a step in the direction of privatisation of our high streets. A BID subtly suggests that the businesses in the area have ownership over it, and can decide what improvements and changes they would like to make and have the right to carry those out. In our opinion a BID puts too much power in the hands of the businesses (and the company formed by the BID to manage changes), and takes that power away from residents and other high street users.

For these reasons Loaf will be voting No in the Lifford BID vote, and I hope our customers will support us in this decision.

If you’d like to see further positive changes in your area please be encouraged by the fun we’ve had in Stirchley in the last five years. Come and talk to any of the organisations listed above if you want to find out how we can continue to improve our high street without a BID. Take risks, talk to people, organise, and be the change!

If you like Dosa (South Indian sourdough pancakes served with delicious sambar curry and chutneys) – then you’re gonna want to know about these two greatdosa events we have on the horizon:

First up we have a Dosa Pop-Up with Birmingham’s king of dosa Haseen George, on the 30th July 2015 from 7-9pm. Like Stirchley-on-Sea it’ll be a casual eat-in or takeaway in the bakery / cookery school, and you can bring your own alcoholic drinks or buy soft drinks here. Full details with menu and prices will be released nearer the time. No need to reserve though, just turn up.

Second up we have a dosa making masterclass with Haseen on the 4th August from 6.30-9.30pm. It’s a great interactive course where you’ll learn all the tips and tricks you need to make great dosa at home, along with all the essential side-orders – masala potatoes, sambar, mint and coriander chutney, and Haseen’s signature – gunpowder chutney (think delicious sand!). You can book online for the dosa course here: http://www.loafonline.co.uk/shop/dosa/

One week to go until our latest iteration of Stirchley on Sea! The menu is looking great, some lovely Portuguese, Italian and Spanish seafood dishes will be available from our cookery school between 7-9pm (or until we sell-out).

It’s take-away or eat-in, what ever suits you. Bring your own booze or we’ll have soft drinks available for sale. If you want to have the Langouste you’ll need to let us know in advance (by Wednesday 17th at the latest) as we’ll only be cooking those to order. For everything else, just turn up on the night. We hope to see you there.

If you have visited our shop or cookery school you have most likely met our lovely colleague, Jordan. She has always had another role outside of Loaf as a florist, working with Eleanor Clarke. An exciting opportunity has come up for Jordan to take on more responsibility over there on a temporary basis and so she’s leaving Loaf for six months to pursue beautiful blooms instead of bloomers! As such, we are looking for someone to take over from her on a temporary basis, if you think you might fit the bill, please do take a look at the job advert and details here.

The deadline for applications is Saturday 13th June. If you have any questions, drop us an email.