Dinkel Extrem – A Bread Seminar
In preparation for the upcoming master baker training, I signed up for a bread seminar at the baker academy in order to scope out the techniques, to test out my comprehension of the dialect/language, and to get accustomed to the school’s bakery. As I was responsible for making the spelt rolls at the bakery in Erfurt, I jumped at the chance to learn all about spelt baked goods at the November seminar. This seminar was being taught by two masters from another school (Olpe) in the German baker education system. The local master baker I had met during my “interview” for the school was also in attendance, working the ovens – one familiar face.
I arrived by train and realized that I should have brought my baker work clothes as most of the other participants (but not all) were appropriately clothed to be hands on. We introduced ourselves; my introduction iterated my goal in participating was to gauge my understanding of the terminology being used and determine if I could catch all the slang and dialect being used. As now expected, half the group was fascinated and the other half were not interested. The course continued.
About 45 minutes into the seminar, another attendee arrives, excuses himself for being late, and joins the class. This participant and his tardiness will play a role in future posts; spoiler: he and the baker manning the ovens become reoccurring, influential characters in my journey.
The seminar runs through a variety of products from bread to rolls to pastries to croissants to desserts. We are provided all the recipes and some guidance on the process. We work as a group to produce each product as the instructors give pointers. Personally, I am already overwhelmed with new information, such as “TA” and other baker vocabulary. I am a bit confused by the concept of “Anstellgut” as well as the need for at least five different types of “Backmittel”. I make notes of my questions so that I may ask back at the bakery; I have a feeling that these other (mostly master) bakers would not appreciate me taking up their seminar time with the basics.
We head out for lunch at the local canteen, and the half that showed interest in my being there sat around me and peppered me with questions as to what my plans are and how I came to be in Germany and in their seminar.
In this group was one guy who wanted me to know everything he knew about bread. His detailed explanations and “did you know” quizzes got old after about twenty minutes. Some of the others had openings for bakers and one even offered me a cool assignment over the holiday season (I never followed through, unfortunately).
Back in the class room, we wrapped up glazing some of the pastries and helped prep the bread for the ovens. It was at this point that I learned just how little experience I had in producing “Schnecken” (slugs) in all their various forms. As well as the glazing techniques and types that are available to the baker. I started to get the feeling that I may be a bit over my head by signing up for a master baker program when I gained so much from one seminar.
The time at the academy wrapped up and we all headed out with a bag full of spelt products. I had booked a hotel for the evening in order to see a bit more of Dresden while I was there. I wandered around a bit and left the following day, knowing that I would be seeing the city again in two months.
On my train ride home the following day, I suddenly lost cell connection; my cell phone showed “no signal”. I was using a crappy cell phone carrier, but usually the name continued to display even when there was no service. I waited a couple days, I turned my phone on and off, and then finally went to an independent cell phone store and asked if they could point me in the right direction.
The guy pulled up my plan and informed me that my SIM card (i.e., my phone and its number) had been reported stolen. Obviously I had not done this as I was standing in front of him with my phone. A new card is being prepped and sent to the name and address on the account. This name and address is not mine; I had used a friend of an ex-friend to get the SIM card. The guy suggested reaching out to the account holder and getting the new SIM. After two messages in two weeks and no reply (although the message was read), I realized that this may not have been a mistake…
In December, I learned the very annoying process of signing up for a cell phone plan in Germany. New number meant new business cards. Nothing needs to be easy in this adventure.
