Foodie thoughts

BAKE TO THE FUTURE

Oh, how we’ve enjoyed baked goods in the last year. I didn’t fall for the sourdough starter craze but I’ve loved craft-made bread, as my slightly tighter trousers will attest.

A monthly treat has been meeting my bubble chum in Saltaire and taking the air – and, it turns out, a good lunch from the Edward Street Bakery eaten on a bench by the side of the canal.

Lisa Fraser started up in her tiny house in Saltaire village, working out of her kitchen and converting the living room into a shop. Opening hours were sporadic as she fitted baking round her day job – but when the claxon sounded (usually via Twitter) there were queues round the block. “I had no idea it would take off the way it did,” says Lisa, who started her career in the kitchen at

Salts Diner then worked for Lishman’s of Ilkley as a catering manager before getting her hands into dough.

Lisa and her team of bakers now beaver away on Bingley Road. “I needed a bigger space and the little ovens were packing in and I thought I’ll just go for it. Despite moving and reopening during the pandemic, we kept faith that our regular customers would find us,” says Lisa.

The range is fabulous – from loaves to custard tarts, sausage rolls to sarnies: the masala halloumi with coconut dhal, tandoori tomato and tamarind ketchup is a belter and will feed two. There’s a hybrid samosa pie and a Stromboli rolled pizza – you get the picture.

“We like to tap into the multi-cultural influences of being in this part of Yorkshire – the choice of ingredients is so diverse,” says Lisa. There are terrific take-outs too: last week I loaded up with tubs of Tandoori paneer and spinach curry and coconut dhal – a minute in the microwave is all it takes for a sensational supper.

■ Edward St Bakery, 40 Bingley Road, Saltaire BD18 4RU. Open Wednesday to Sunday 9am – 2.30pm.