Before most of us are even contemplating hitting the hay, baker Blair is having some dinner, popping on his favourite music playlist and preparing for an evening thick with mixing, moulding and baking. It’s all part of his tireless commitment to crafting the freshest food. Come the cool morning sunrise, Der Partisan Bakery is stocked to brim with warm inviting treats.
Having done the rounds of the Melbourne sourdough bakeries over the years, Blair had an opportunity to do his own thing and took it. Der Partisan Bakery is fast becoming a local favourite in Brunswick for its artisan breads and baked goods, organically growing with an adoring community. From the moment the doors open and the refreshing aroma of a great morning coffee bellows onto the street, the shop comes alive with regulars and the curious alike.
There’s a comfortable, authentic design to the shop-front, with racks presenting loaves and buns straight from the oven for your pleasure. With a dedication to providing the best possible flavour and texture, there are no added preservatives or cheap imitation flavours. Through painstaking experimentation and a lot of fine-tuning, the impressive results speak for themselves. Amongst a robust array of handmade sourdough and specialty breads, the dark rye Schwarzbrot loaf proves a popular choice. Made from dense rye dough and slow-baked in a terracotta bowl that leaves the imprint of an amusing face in each loaf, becoming a signature item that’s loved city-wide. Variety is always welcome, however, and Der Partisan Bakery has it in spades.
The likes of huge, thick traditional Southern German-style pretzels have proven a massive hit at festivals. They lay plentiful alongside flaky chocolate croissants, Sticky Buns, brioches, Danishes and plump escargot buns. Come lunch, you may find yourself gravitating toward a tasty handmade beef and mushroom pie with a tantalising slow-cooked filling, or the vegetarian black bean variety wrapped in a crisp pastry. Everybody wins when you treat yourself to the atmosphere and personality of this delightful gem of a bakery.
