So 2012 is upon us as is the first public holiday of the year. We don't include New Year's Day as a holiday as you're generally still celebrating from the night before. It's the Australian way isn't it?  Er, maybe not.

Does the Aussie larrikin exist anymore? Or is the new Australian a mishmash of cultures? A blending of nationalities, new foods, intriguing traditions and the hilarity that often comes when learning another language. The celebration of Australia Day and what is means to be Australian is so relative. Some are excited and reflective of the emerging cultural melting pot whilst many just enjoy a day off. 

Like any celebration, spending time with the ones you love and doing things that make you happy is often more important than the reason you got together in the first place. At La Madre, our blend of Vietnamese, Thai, Croatian, Welsh, English, Indian and Chinese cultures will continue to work harmoniously together.  And at the end of the day, we'll crack open a tinnie, cheers our mates and let that little bit of larrikin in all of us out for a while. 

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So what is it about climate change that has everyone so terrified?  Really it is more than the proposed carbon tax or any other legislative machinery that is frightening folks.  It is simply a matter of having to change our ways and as the adage says, old habits die hard.

At La Madre, we like the phrase ‘shift the way you think’.  It feels less cumbersome and much more achievable.  And really, if we want to (quite literally) save the planet, then everyone needs to make a change. 

According to WWF 2010 Living Planet Report, we are currently living at 1½ times our planet's capacity.  Now unless we’ve been living in a hole, there is only one planet we can live on so it would be in our best interest to protect it.

So how do we go about it?  Here at La Madre, we constantly ask ourselves, ‘Is there a more sustainable way of doing things?’  It is a simple question but brings sustainability to the forefront of our business philosophy.  We don’t always get it right, but we encourage transparency and invite discussion and feedback.

Firstly, however, our attitudes towards consumerism need to be revisited.  We live in a culture of consumerism and waste defined by the eating of highly processed foods and excess consumption of stuff.  Jump on YouTube and watch The Story of Stuff.  It will certainly make you think about all the, well, stuff you have.  And if you didn’t have it, what difference would it make to your life?

Our consumerism attitudes are well defined by the term ‘Affluenza’ which is described as “The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses...An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by a dogged pursuit of the American [or Australian] dream.”  (www.affluenza.org)

So how does this relate to food production and why is La Madre talking about it? Excess food production and the effects that it is having on our planet is as big a problem as climate change.  34% of the world’s landmass is used for meat production, our seas are overfished and our land and water quality are compromised.  We have to shift the way we think when it comes to food and what we eat.  Especially when we consider that around $5million of food waste is generated in Australia each year.

Recently, the world’s number one restaurateur, Rene Redzepi from Copenhagen’s Noma held the MAD FoodCamp Symposium in Denmark (mad means food in Danish).  It was inspirational in the messages that it generated including why we have one billion people who are obese and one billion people who are starving.  And ultimately, chefs have a responsibility to change the way we view farming and what we eat – a role that transcends their knife skills.  In Copenhagen Harbour that weekend, the conference delegates were eating ants!  It was a call to action to challenge our cultural norms.  Whilst it may be a little way off before we see our fillet steak swapped for a side order of insects, it wasn’t that long ago when collecting rain water or composting or installing PV systems was considered a bit ‘out there’.

It is a long and slow road but at La Madre we are constantly reviewing and reassessing our suppliers to ensure that every single product we make is as sustainable as possible.  There are a few products that have been hard to lower the carbon footprint of and they may be taken off our range for a while until the situation changes.  There are other compromises that we won’t make like our love of Belgian chocolate but really the message that is so important is not to go from one extreme to another as that is hard for most to maintain.  But it is time to start to shift the way we think...

We’ll leave you with the words of Melissa Etheridge’s anthem for the planet, ‘I need to wake up’

I need to move

I need to wake up

I need to change

I need to shake up

I need to speak out

Something's got to break up

I’ve been asleep and I need to wake up now

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It has been a long time coming but finally we got to take some time off on a Sunday and make the country amble from Geelong down the Colac Road towards Birregurra and the quirky Sunnybrae. Known as ‘the restaurant in the middle of a paddock’, it is not far from the truth.

Set in a house where you feel like you are dining in the front room, George Biron and Diane have been running this country gem for over 20 years.  Utilising ingredients fresh from the kitchen garden along with excellent local knowledge of seasonal bounties, the Sunnybrae menu has always been intriguing.  We were fortunate that on this particular Sunday things were just as they should be.

We won’t pretend to be food critics or even food bloggers, but the highlights on the five course menu were the avocado, aptenia & celery salad with coriander and chilli; Donati’s contechino with lentils, currants & duck jelly; young goat slow cooked in the wood oven with pomegranate burghul pilaf and to finish the saffron poached pears with honey & elderflower liqueur, almond frangipane with halva ice cream.  Service was fabulous and welcoming and the whole experience was memorable.

George conducts cooking classes on Mondays and his blog is equally intriguing so be sure to check out it out here

For photographs and other check out the images on our Facebook page here

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A recent conversation with a food technologist highlighted that food labelling is more confusing than initially thought. The topic was related to the use of Vitamin C to produce a sherbet and its other commonly used names ascorbic acid or E300. As a rule, there are no numbers at La Madre Bakery so unless you are familiar with how labelling works many numbers can slip through under another name. E300 is considered safe and other additives including 101, 375 and 400 also known as Vitamin B1, Niacin and Pectin are equally so. Vitamin C is often used in sourdough production as an improver and the quantities are relatively small, say a teaspoon to every 15kg of flour. At La Madre, whilst we don't currently use improvers, we recognise that Vitamin C can be incredibly beneficial to the baked loaf especially with trickier flours such as spelt or wholemeal where water levels are adjusted significantly.

So how do you protect against the use of additives in your diet? The answer is not straightforward and for a pure diet, it is not easy. But all is not lost. If armed with some useful information, you can enjoy a fabulous diet that is as preservative and additive free as you're likely to get without taking out a degree!

Our sourdough, for example is nothing more than our mother culture + organic unbleached wheat flour + filtered water + sea salt + time + love. That's it. And what is the mother culture? Flour + water + natural airborne yeast. Simple. It's the ultimate slow food.

In fact, all of La Madre's breads use this same basic philosophy but alternate between flours and add some delicious morsels such as Mount Zero's biodynamic olives or Tabletop Grapes' chemical free sultanas, currants and raisins. And our sweet range is equally as dedicated to eliminating nasties. We soak our raisins in a certified organic Earl Grey Tea. We support local producers and love Jonesy's Milk, Green Eggs and St James Walnuts. We use natural colourings in our fondants and icing such as hibiscus for pink or safflower + lemon for yellow.

Which leads to recent press about the use of food dyes and whether the USFDA will ban those thought to cause hyperactivity in children. (Unfortunately, the USFDA didn't ban them but said they may make kids hyperactive.) Great Britain is watching the USFDA closely and the EU is already proactive on the matter. It can be said that the food industry needs food dyes badly because no one would want to eat grey sweets or drink grey cordial. But in reality, nobody else needs food dyes.

So, all you really have to do is ask where your food comes from and what is in it. Quiz the retailer, producer or farmer so you can make an informed decision. And what should be the general rule? If you can't pronounce it, don't consume it. Who wants to willingly ingest something called Acesulphame Potassium? If you drink diet cola, then you already are. If the ingredients listed aren't simple, common or easy to understand then it is probably best to give it a miss. And that is not a difficult rule to live by really. 

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The seasons have changed once again as we leave behind the summer months and head straight into bountiful autumn. And what a confusing series of weather we have had of late! It has bought with it the early arrival of autumnal favourites such as pine mushrooms whilst we hold on to the last of the summer tomatoes.

There's a lot to get excited about. Autumn is the season for parsnips, celeriac, pears, pine mushrooms, figs, almonds, walnuts, borlotti beans, leeks, passionfruit and grapes. It is also the season for slow cooking. As the weather cools and we bunker down in our homes, cooking times increase and we develop sensational flavours from our seasonal bounty.

We'll be looking forward to roasted beetroot alongside mashed parsnips with real butter. Maybe with a crispy crackling free range pork roast and a nice glass of something! And whatever it is that you are cooking, make sure you enjoy it with family, good friends and a whole lot of happiness. Open fire optional.

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And we're back to school this week. Love it or loathe it, there is no escaping it.

There is certainly a big thud back to reality for those who spend January on the beach, staying up late, enjoying life and its lack of routine. For others it is a welcome respite from a rapidly emptying wallet and a house trashed by kids on a daily basis.

Then there is the traffic - it is back! All roads seem to be full of school commuters slowing down through 40 zones with precious cargo on board.

Adding to the angst is the school lunch box. What to send that won't come home? What is fresh, economical, and more importantly nutritionally sound?

There are many excellent resources for inspirational lunch box ideas that don't just have to feed kids! Check out http://tinyurl.com/6czl22j for some terrific ideas. And surely anything that freezes and defrosts well is a life saver for that pre-8.30am panic.

Here at La Madre, all of our breads freeze very well so be sure to keep a stash of ciabatta rolls or sliced sourdough as a back up for a fresh salad sandwich. And as all of our products are made with a capital N O to preservatives, you can be sure that there are no nasty additives or improvers in any of our products. That means that even a double chocolate lamington could be a fabulous lunchbox treat. Or try one of our popular rye, currant + walnut rolls that are great with some cheddar cheese for morning tea.

So no matter whether you've got a Preppy starting school for the first time or a teenager entering their final years of secondary education, the school lunch box + the school run = busy! Good luck and just think of next January when life can slow down for a little while once again...

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The Boxing Kangaroo. G’Day. Waltzing Matilda. Strewth. She’ll be ‘right. That’s not a knife. B+S. Crikey! Throw another shrimp on the barbie. Bloody oath. Aveagoyermug. Chuck a sickie. How’s the serenity? Khe San. Larrikin. Big Banana. Dag. Dead Horse.

Like ‘em or love ‘em, these Aussie-isms are part of the fabric of this fabulous nation of ours. So what does it mean to be an Australian? For some, it embodies the fighting spirit of the Boxing Kangaroo. For others it is the self deprecating humour of being a nation built on convicts with a sheep stealing thief as a cultural icon. And of course, it is hard not to get goose bumps at those lyrics, ‘No matter how far, or how wide I roam. I still call Australia home’.  

And then there is a boy born in Essex, England who emigrated to G-Town to live in the City by the Bay.  Six years, a bakery, a wife, three kids and a few extra grey hairs later, La Madre owner Tez became a bonefide Australian Citizen. Just don’t ask him to barrack for anyone else but Blighty in the cricket!

So this Australia Day, grab one of our fabulous lamingtons, a cold and dark ale (we like Red Duck’s Porter) and say ‘Cheers mate!’ and just, well, chew the fat Cobber.

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Is it really? Is just feels like All is really, really busy...

Here at La Madre headquarters, Christmas is quite a chaotic time of year. The phone is off the hook with calls, emails are flooding in and we are grabbing anything we can to take orders - napkins, scrap paper, backs of hands!

The air in the bakery is a heady mix of sourdough culture, cinnamon, ginger + other festive spices whilst thousands of loaves of bread are produced alongside hundreds upon hundreds of Fruit Mince Pies.

Our delivery drivers are madly stocking their sleighs whilst our elves are posting chocolate blood oranges to Hobart, Sydney + Brisbane to keep everyone happy. And this bedlam will continue until we collapse in our mangers on Christmas Eve! 

But the festive season is more than just eating + working. It is a time for reflection on the year that has been and for contemplation upon the year that is to come. It is a time to acknowledge the not-so-fortunate and La Madre was proud to once again support the Adopt-a-Family Geelong Advertiser Appeal. Our staff were fabulous in contributing out of their own pockets on top of the gifts + food already purchased.

And finally, we would like to thank you. Without our loyal customers supporting our humble bakery we would not be able to keep producing great sourdough breads and fabulous sweet treats.

Merry Christmas and may your night be silent!

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We’ve gone a bit crazy for chocolate here at La Madre.  We’ve been working hard on some new products and chocolate seems to be the theme. All day we cook with it, eat it, talk about it and at night we dream about it.

Apparently chocolate has been around for over three millennia which means that someone in 1100BC had the excellent idea that something fabulous could be cultivated from the seeds of the cacao tree. However it reached our shores, our chocolate buying process has been an incredibly enjoyable one. We’ve tried Valrhona’s Manjari fresh and tangy dark chocolate, Callebaut’s Noir, some great quality stuff from Victoria’s Kennedy + Wilson plus other gratuitous tastings because...well, we can.

The health benefits of chocolate have been professed – dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system and has high antioxidant properties.  The aphrodisiac effects have also been touted making eating chocolate all the more attractive!

So where is the chocolate at La Madre? A lot of it is in our tummies but some of it is on our new Hob Nob Cookies – our twist on a British institution; Dark Chocolate Brownies with Walnuts; Caramel Slice – a wickedly indulgent combination of oozy caramel, coconut and chocolate; Chocolate Lamingtons coated in coconut and more chocolate; and even our Vanilla Slice has a hint of chocolate in the icing! Yup, we’re mad for the stuff. Bring it on.

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So the UCI Road World Championships are nearly upon our fair city, despite the billing as Melbourne 2010.  Geelong is kind of a suburb of Melbourne right?  Anyway, the city is looking pretty slick and despite the usual grumbles about roads being closed many businesses and residents are gearing up for a great event. 

Pakington Street shops are embracing the bicycle theme with a gorgeous display at Judy Chirnside Flowers (www.judychirnsideflowers.com.au ) featuring some lovely looking loaves from a little bakery we know!  Haymes Paint has also demonstrated their window skills with a cute mural of moving cyclists.  Michael’s at Caffe Volare has an amazing installation made by the kids of the local primary school.  Even the electrical boxes have been given a quirky coat of paint.

The StreetsAreAlive program is a dynamic display of roving street performers who will strut their stuff from October 1-3 in Malop Street, Lt Malop Street, Gheringhap Street, Fairnie Park and Waterfront Geelong.

For cycling fans, the race will showcase some of the best riders in the world.  The vantage points are excellent and for a full course map and information, check out www.melbourne2010.com.au

Where to watch the action:

Johnstone Park – this is the main information hub for the championships and will also feature a food + craft market as well as entertainment.

Waterfront Geelong – with the cyclists whizzing down the Esplanade on race day and along the Waterfront during time trials, this area will be a buzzing hub during the event.  Nearby cafes and restaurants will provide great vantage points and roving entertainment, a giant screen and the Bike Hub official expo will all add to the atmosphere.

Montpellier Park – for the diehard cycling fan, this is the place to be.  Situated at the top of the gruelling Challambra Crescent climb, this vantage point will not only be awesome for viewing the cycling but also for glorious views across Geelong.

Queens Park – at the point of the second uphill climb, this is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch (with bread from La Madre of course!) and to watch the race.  There will also be a live screen and kid’s entertainment.

West Park – just off Pakington Street will provide an international fiesta with an Auscycle display and Bike Exchange.

Barwon Valley – the east end will be an Australian themed spectator precinct with a live screen and family entertainment alongside the Barwon River.

And of course, if you’re in town to watch the race and you’ve got your own bike, take advantage of the beautiful scenery with some excellent advice on local rides from http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2010/09/geelong-uci-world-championships-where-to-ride/

For non-cycling fans, the event provides an opportunity for a party!  There will be many a trackside marquee and below is our pick of the best venues in town to take in the experience of the second largest cycling event in the world...

The Barking Dog, 126 Pakington Street, Geelong West: The entire car park will be marqueed in for the event in an Oktoberfest style celebration. Live DJs will provide entertainment including Earl Spurling + Adam Gardiner.

Elephant + Castle, 158 McKillop Street, East Geelong: Good company, beautiful wine and great food is available at this pub which is situated away from the action in a quiet neighbourhood location.

Randall the Wine Merchant, 324 Pakington Street, Newtown: On Wednesday 29 September from 5pm-7pm, Randall’s invites you to taste Geelong’s finest wines and local produce in a night of tastings and prizes.

Go Food, 37 Bellarine Street, Geelong: Not just for the lucky doctors and nurses who work in the nearby hospitals, Go Food is a great cafe serving excellent food and awesome Allpress coffee.

Michael's at Caffe Volare, 111 Pakington Street, Geelong West: Famous around town for its wonderful coffee.  The tiny cafe is just 2m x 2m and is nestled in the turret of a heritage building.  It's just Michael, the Sophia Loren coffee machine, grinder and refrigerator.  

Mr Hyde, 11 Malop Street, Geelong: Located in the old London Chartered Bank building, this awesome bar will mix you an amazing cocktail, pour you a fabulous St Ali coffee and serve you some great food using local produce. The opulent decor underneath 20 foot ceilings adds to the atmosphere.

Most of all just soak in the atmosphere, walk everywhere you would normally drive and cheer on the competitors.  GO AUSSIES!

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The word nice has had a bad wrap lately. 'Nice?', one might exclaim. 'Surely there is a more exciting way to describe it than 'Nice?'.  But sometimes, nice words or words of nicety are perfect. 

Check out these nice words of nicety from the authors of The Foodies' Guide to Melbourne 2011, 'Geelong residents have the good fortune to have the La Madre Bakery right on their doorstep. Recent times have seen the business grow to a purpose-built space in Bell Park. Daily they produce terrific loaves made with great skill - a sourdough tin, rye, seeded loaf and a popular olive loaf, as well as Italian-inspired loaves like ciabatta and focaccia. The rye, currant and walnuts buns are excellent too. New to the range is the 100% spelt loaf and the spelt with pumpkin seeds and oats.'

And we were profiled in the Spotlight on Best Regional Bakeries, 'This terrific bakery in the outer suburbs of Geelong turns out excellent bread. The rye loaf is particularly good as it has a lightness not always seen in a loaf of this type. Perfect with gruyère and cheddar cheeses.'

Very nice indeed...

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Anna Spurling, Tez Kemp and the whole La Madre team are ecstatic after landing the "Medium Business Award" as well as being name a finalist for the "Business of the Year" for their outstanding business vision, management, performance and commitment at the 25th Geelong Advertiser Business Excellence Awards gala event held at the Kardinia Heights Centre in Geelong on Wednesday, 21st July.

“When it came to selecting a winner, La Madre ticked all the boxes. It is wonderful to see two young and very committed people embrace an opportunity, build a quality product, and apply good principles with a degree of sophistication, and succeed. They are a genuine example of an excellent business,” said Dan Simmonds, chairman of the panel and managing principal, Harwood Andrews Lawyer in Geelong.

It has been a triumphant two years for La Madre Bakery, winning the 2009 Baking Manufacturer of the Year as well as the 2008 Small Business Award at these same awards two years ago. To come away in 2010 with the Medium Business gong is a true testament to the successful growth of their business.

“Anna and I are over the moon,” says Tez. “It’s definitely reassuring to know that you’re doing something right. We have a terrific team of people to applaud for their dedication, hard work and fun spirit. The Awards are a big deal here in Geelong, so it’s quite special to be involved, and win, of course!”.

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Geelong or 'Jillong' (Aboriginal for Ocean) was declared a town in 1838. Since then, we've made a name for ourselves with our football team - the Mighty Cats, being the birthplace of Barry Crocker what a shocker, marketing ourselves as the 'City by the Bay' and of course the lovely loaves from La Madre Bakery.

Despite the general love for the boys in navy and white, La Madre's fabulous baker boys are looking forward to a bigger football tournament - World Cup 2010 South Africa. They're working on some fun food for the shop like Serbian burek, South African doughnuts, Dutch stroop waffles and a range of other calories for your eating pleasure. Keep up with us on twitter and facebook and you'll be in the know...

Andrew, our new pastry chef, is working on a new pastry range and has been trialing croissant recipes and techniques these past few days. Lots of tasting, lots of full bellies and lots of great feedback. We'll be releasing our range very soon.

Our new double rack oven is being installed early next week and we'll be keeping you all up to date during the four day build. Then on to our dedicated pastry section...onwards and upwards in G-Town.

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Support La Madre and other top local producers during the statewide campaign to Put Victoria On Your Table. Explore some of the greatest food and wine on the planet - all at your doorstep!

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