Review 4 - Bread Ahead

Earlier this week I decided to treat myself to a mosey around Borough Market for some lunch. I wasn’t super hungry, and just wanted something cheap, easy and filling (which, although they were good, the mussels I had last time were neither cheap nor easy). After a quick mosey around the main market, I stepped over to the Green Market area, just across Bedale/Cathedral Street. Unlike the majority of Borough Market, Green Market is open air and the majority of the stalls there are just that, stalls. Not permanent places like they are in the indoor market.

I had a wander past the Bread Ahead stall and liked the look of it, but ever the completionist, I kept wandering to see if I could find something else I wanted more. At which point I went back onto Cathedral Street to find the Bread Ahead bakery and school, with another stall immediately outside. It was a sign. It said: Bread.

Tomato and Pesto Focaccia. Easy, simple and cheap enough at £2. And it was right there in front of me. I just needed to get in the queue and wait my turn. Or at least, that’s what I thought. Until the man in front of me decided to buy 50 donuts there and then. Won’t lie, forgot that I’d passed the other stall with no queue and stayed there longer than I should have. Still, gave me a chance to take a couple pictures.

Eventually, I went back to the other stall and got my focaccia. And my god was it good. The crust was hard and crusty, while the inside was light without being super airy. And the flavour was just so good. The saltiness of the pesto worked so well with the bread. Honestly, I don’t know why I haven’t been putting pesto in my savoury bakes. Definitely will be trying it soon. The tomatoes were also good, not dried out, but not too juicy either. They had clearly been added to the bread later in the baking process and I was sort of expecting sun-dried tomatoes in the dough, but these were definitely fresh. It was definitely delicious. I found it filling, but then again, my appetite isn’t huge, but freshly baked wholesome bread for lunch? For less than the price of a meal deal? Yes please.

Bread Ahead has a couple of shops around London, but ALSO combine some of these shops with a bakery school. That’s right. You can learn to bake what they sell for yourself. The majority of their courses are half days, and will set you back £90, but they also have some 2 hour, full day or 3 day courses if that’s what you fancy. They do a wide range of courses, including seasonal ones such as Christmas Celebration Bakes. And if half a day baking doesn’t sound up your street (in which case, why are you reading this blog?), but would be a friend’s dream come true, you can buy gift vouchers for half or full day courses and let your friend pick which course they would like to do. Could make a different present for the London based foodie in your life.

Review:

Item: Tomato and Pesto Focaccia
9/10 for taste, 9/10 for cost. Will buy this again. Often.

Bread Ahead (Borough Market) Details:

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8:00am-5:00pm, Fri: 8:00am-6:00pm, Sat: 8:00am-5:00pm

Address: Borough Market, Cathedral St, London SE1 9DE

Website: https://www.breadahead.com/