Kevin Stickley from the Cottage Loaf Bakery in Eccleston

This months foodie is Kevin Stickley from the Cottage Loaf Bakery in Eccleston, Chorley. Kevin is very shy like most bakers so we don't actually have a picture of Kevin. Needless to say he's an earlier riser like all craft bakers and proudly still bakes on the premises.

I have been at the bakery since April 1989, when my family moved from Northampton. After getting married in 1998, my parents and sister retired and left me in sole charge. With a good team of staff and help from my wife, Lesley-Ann, the bakery is still going strong today.

We produce traditional bread, cakes pies and sandwiches, and also supply local businesses as well.

What is your favourite cookery or food book or publication ?

The Craft Bakers Book of Bread Making.

What sentence sums up Lancashire Food to you ?

It’s straight forward, tasty and well worth searching for a good producer.

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you like to be ?

I nearly joined the Navy before I became an apprentice baker, so, a Naval officer by now.

Which piece of kit could you not do without ?

I need my oven and mixer, but I have a scotch scraper that I have used for 27 years, it’s still got a few years left in it.

Who would join you at your ultimate dinner party and why?

Paul Hollywood, to keep the wife happy, and Peter Kay, very funny man and I think he appreciates a good pie as well.

What advice would you give to your younger self ?

Choose staff more wisely, don’t be frightened to experiment and try new ideas, take more time out.

Describe your style in three words

Laid back, traditional and dedicated

What was your latest foodie gadget purchase ?

My 1955 Hobart mixer has died, so I have joined the world of spiral mixers.

What is your greatest achievement to date ?

Surviving for 27 years, while 6 bakeries around us have disappeared.

What is the worst mistake you have made ?

Putting business before family.

Tell us a secret about yourself ? may be something we wouldn’t expect !

Considering the fact I get up at 1AM, I hate early mornings.

May 2014 - Sharon Loving - The Ginger Baker Longridge

                    

     Sharon Loving - The Ginger Baker Longridge.

Meet Sharon Loving , The Ginger Baker who is this month's featured foodie. Sharon is a talented Gluten Free baker and owner of The Ginger Baker cafe / tea room in Longridge. Check out our recent post on her newly opened cafe.

Sharon is a gluten free baker who has become a feature of the Lancashire Food scene supplying a wide range of tasty treats direct to customers and through various quality outlets and now her own venue too.

Here's her answers to our questions.

·  What is your favourite cookery or food book or publication ?

I have two bibles,  Laduree  Paris ‘Sucre’  and ‘The Golden Book Of Chocolate’

·   What sentence sums up Lancashire Food to you ?

An entire meal on your doorstep, vegetables, meat, fish, bread cakes all on your doorstep.

·   If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you like to be ?

I’m a trained organic horticulturist, so that would be my backup career

·       ·   Which piece of kit could you not do without ?

My Microwave for melting chocolate

·        · Who would join you at your ultimate dinner party and why?

My In Laws Enid and James – amazing adventurous cooks, they opened my eyes to the world of ingredients, how many ways to cook venison and how many ways to pickle vegetables

·       ·   What advice would you give to your younger self ?

Be patient, it will happen

·       ·   Describe your style in three words

Pretty - Unique - Flavoursome

·      ·    What was your latest foodie gadget purchase 

       My Lovely vintage green Kitchen Aid

·        · What is your greatest achievement to date ?

My Glutenfree  Tearoom ‘The Ginger Baker’, it’s been many years in the planning.

·        · What is the worst mistake you have made ?

I once covered a vegan cake in normal chocolate and didn’t realise until I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I got a lovely card saying it was the most amazing cake she’d ever eaten.

·       ·   Tell us a secret about yourself ? may be something we wouldn’t expect !

I was interviewed to present a gardening programme on a well-known channel but fell ill and had to have major surgery, so that was put on the back burner. I also had a glass of champagne with John Hurt when we sat together at a movie premier, in my late teens. We chatted for a while and I just thought he was a strange old man – no idea who he was :)