I always remember the smell of fresh bread coming out of the bakery next to my primary school as a child. The Old House Bakery gives me exactly that feeling every time I walk in it looking for something not just to fill just my stomach, but also for a dose of nostalgia.
Fighting all odds
Terri, the owner of the Old House Bakery, has been an organic farmer for a while now and she started the Old House Bakery just a few months ago right in the heart of the city near the St. Paul’s Ruin. “It hasn’t been an easy journey from the beginning,” she says. Just a few weeks before the opening of the bakery, the shop was badly flooded by the mega typhoon, Hato. Many types of equipment were damaged. However, Terri has been extremely lucky with the support from the friendly neighborhood. The shop soon gained back its shape and was opened to the public in November 2017.
A for Artisanal
The bread in the Old House Bakery is different from any other bakery you will find in Macau. Firstly, every single bread is freshly made by hand each day. “With artisan brand like the ones we make, it is difficult to mass produce,” says Terri. Terri thinks that making bread is an artistic way of expressing the ingredients from nature. She devotes a lot of time and effort into searching the freshest ingredients and testing out different ways of making bread. Secondly, Terri enjoys receiving feedback from her customers. “This is why we exist, to listen to what people want.” Terri will try to turn customer suggestions into reality. Whether it is customizing a super-size gingerbread cookie or turning the traditional almond cookie in pink with fresh beetroot juice. Terri likes what her customers think about their products. She finds the human connection much closer running the bakery this way.
Another amazing thing about the Old House Bakery is its hidden rooftop farm in the same building. Climbing up the stairs, I saw a totally contrasting view of the surrounding region. I find it unbelievable to see a flourishing farmland in the middle of a busy district of Macau. There are plants of different varieties, from basil and rosemary to chili and even passionfruit. Terri likes to integrate seasonal ingredients in the bread-making process and tries to use organic products from her own farm. If you are a fan of organic tea, you should definitely try their dry lemon tea and hibiscus tea coming from their partner farm in Hong Kong!
One of my favorite items from this bakery is their chocolate chili cookies. It always manages to surprise me with the subtle yet special spiciness. I highly recommend it! Besides this, they also do great scones and are really lovely too. If you would like to try out the bread in the Old House Bakery, make sure you check out the weekly schedule from the bakery’s Facebook page or the website below.
The second floor of this building is the Old House Studio, where multiple events, performances, and community projects are hosted throughout the year. At the moment, there is a series of talks in progress regarding the history of city planning in Macau. There is also a workshop about starting your own organic farm. For more information, please check out the website below.
Open from 12:00pm–7:00pm (closed on Tuesday)
Old House Bakery Pátio do Amparo No. 13 Santo António, Macau,+853 2836 2237, www.facebook.com/oldhousebakery
