German bakery brings home country tradition to Sydenham, Ont.
A new bakery in a small town north of Kingston, Ont., is getting a lot of attention for its traditional approach.
The baker is originally from Germany, and brought his background to the shop, making German-style breads for residents.
Only a month after opening, he’s finding his shop's popularity is on the rise.
Roland Jensch attributes some of his love of baking to his grandfather. A master baker in Germany, Jensch says he learned a lot from him at a young age.
“There was always bread; he always baked stuff too,” he explains. “And he talked about it. He was very proud of what he was doing.”
It wasn’t until years later, after a move to Canada, that he found his career.
“I was always baking on the side and people kept asking for it, and I was soon baking for friends and family too,” he says.
So, one month ago, he opened a shop in his new home of Sydenham, Ont. Called Grains and Goods Bakery, it places a focus on German-style bread, and traditional bread making.
He says the style of loaf is distinctive.
“Crustier, heartier, darker kinds of bread,” he says. “Something with a bit more substance, maybe.”
The dedication to the craft is not easy. Some loaves can take up to 48 hours to prepare.
His 100 per cent rye bread has to be baked a full day before to reach its proper flavour.
“It’s very dark, it’s very heavy, if you could feel the weight,” he explains. “It doesn’t rise. So it’s not like a light fluffy bread.”
Fan favourites, soft pretzels, also get the traditional treatment.
Sydenham has a population of about 2,500 people, but the region is home to a number of German residents, like Stefan Durest, who is his daughter can have a taste of home.
“It brings back memories,” he says of the bread. “I literally waited 20 years for the German bread to follow me here.”
Others, like Tara, simply lining up.
“Every time I come, they're either sold out or closed, so I’m super excited to have some fresh bread,” she says.
Run by Jensch and his wife Liz, they are only open two days a week to manage the workload, but have plans to expand in the spring and summer.
Jensch says he appreciates the support.
“It’s great, it’s really amazing. We didn’t expect to be so busy so early on.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.