It’s a Beautiful Thing

The Art of Bread Making

Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Shelby Bella

There’s something undeniably satisfying about making an object from scratch; anyone who’s tried their hand at baking bread knows this to be true. The baking process, which is as unhurried as it is focused, is a lesson in slowing down and often inspires a deeper appreciation for all things handmade.

For David Norman, Easy Tiger’s founder and head dough puncher, the process of baking is an artistic performance. The rhythmic kneading and shaping of the dough, the measured approach, and the repetitive nature—especially when attempting to make the perfect loaf—are all components of baking that have kept him engaged in his trade for decades. “You get into this rhythm, making this beautiful object, [knowing] it gets to be eaten and enjoyed by somebody,” says David. “I think that’s a beautiful thing.”

After spending time in Germany during college, David initially picked up baking as a way to recreate the incredible breads he experienced overseas. But it didn’t take long for that hobby to develop into a lifelong career. While he still does a lot of baking himself as head dough puncher at Easy Tiger, his role is more focused on product development and training fellow bakers on how to execute his signature recipes. However, he has fully embraced the teaching component of his position because imparting his wisdom keeps him more “engaged and fascinated with the baking process,” he says.

Like many who are passionate about their vocation, David rejoices in sharing everything he’s learned about bread with others. In fact, he even wrote a cookbook. “Bread on the Table” is filled with recipes for European-style bread, many of which are the foundation for Easy Tiger’s scratch made baked goods. The recipes are comprehensive, but he insists that at-home bakers need not be intimidated by detailed recipes. Rather, it just takes a little experimenting to get the hang of it. “[Understanding] the ratios is very important,” he says. “But there’s always a feel factor to bread as well. It takes a little experience to know how a dough should feel.”

At-Home Baking

David and his team at Easy Tiger have always encouraged at-home baking, but even more so recently when interest in the activity began to pick up. When Austin’s shelter-in-place order was issued in March, many found themselves with more time on their hands—and a growing curiosity to bake bread. In response, Easy Tiger began their sourdough starter kits, complete with the essential starter and a bag of flour, and a step-by-step recipe sheet, to make baking bread at home even easier. The kits sold out instantly, solidifying the bakery’s intrinsic ability to meet the community’s needs.

Easy Tiger opened its original downtown bake shop and beer garden in 2012 and has since become a household name. Even after experiencing significant growth over the years—opening two more locations and have a third in the works—Easy Tiger remains approachable and authentic, thanks in part to its community-driven ethos and David’s enthusiasm for all things bread.

“It doesn’t matter how many loaves of bread I make; I still eat bread every single day,” he states. “It’s just something that’s really part of my life.”

10,000 Loaves Community Challenge

In an effort to give back to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Easy Tiger committed to baking and distributing 10,000 loaves of bread to nonprofits including Central Texas Food Bank, Meals on Wheels of Central Texas, Keep Austin Fed, Drive a Senior, and Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

David’s top tips for at-home baking

Bake around your schedule: While the entire baking process can take anywhere between 12-16 hours, you don’t need to clear your calendar. The actual kneading is done within short intervals, so you can work on your dough in between work, loads of laundry, or dinner prep.
Organize your workspace: Just like with cooking, it helps to get all of your ingredients and equipment together beforehand and read through the entire recipe so you have an idea of what it entails before getting started.
Don’t forget to preheat: To best replicate the environment of a traditional bread oven, David suggests letting the oven preheat for “at least an hour [before baking], especially if you have a pizza stone in there or something to make steam with.”