Meet: The Midnight Baker

One of the edible highlights in our new Eat at The Shelter cafe is the delicious and nourishing Freedom Loaf by The Midnight Baker. To celebrate the opening of Eat at The Shelter and the delicious loaf-and-toppings combinations available, we spoke to Yeshe of The Midnight Baker to learn a little more about her love of baking treats late at night and a desire to find wholesome, healthy alternatives that suited her dietary requirements. - How long have you been baking? How did The Midnight Baker come about? I started The Midnight Baker about six months ago as a side project and hobby but I had been baking for a long time before that. A few years ago, I went gluten and dairy free to help with my Eczema.  At the time, I found myself wanting gluten free bread options and decided to try my hand at making my own. I wanted to have control over what I was putting into my body and to eliminate as much of the unnecessary as possible. I shared it with friends who in turn wanted me to make it for them and slowly things have grown through word-of-mouth. Now, it’s no longer just a hobby! Having my bread on the menu at The Shelter and other amazing establishments is something I could only have dreamed of. What was your reasoning behind making the decision to go gluten and diary free? My decision to go gluten and dairy (and alcohol) free was primarily to do with my Eczema but also for my general health and well being. I wasn’t digesting the substances well and found they were aggravating the inflammation of my skin. I would also experience incredible brain fog and lethargy after ingesting them. Since eliminating them from my diet, I’ve seen gradual improvement in all areas, especially in my clarity of thought. It’s been hard on many levels but it’s wonderful that there are now so many great diet alternatives from products to places to eat.  The discussion around traditional methods and types of food is more open these days. Can you tell us about the health benefits of the ingredients inside your loaves? The loaf is packed full of seeds, nuts and grains which are high in protein, good oils and fats. They’re also used in their whole form so as to retain all of their nutrients, and soaked for a minimum of four hours so that your body can easily digest them. The loaf is also very high in fibre. It contains psyllium husks which are amazing for your digestion and help to eliminate toxins from the colon and your body. There are no unnecessary additives, preservatives, no non descript food codes. There’s no dairy, eggs, yeast, refined sugar, wheat or gluten in the loaves, just simple whole ingredients. Which loaves are available for pick up from The Shelter? How do customers go about this? Customers are welcome to pre-order and pick up any of the loaves I bake from the The Shelter. There are two loaf option: Natural - contains oats so is wheat free but not gluten free. Buckwheat - uses Buckwheat flour so is gluten and wheat free (This is the option Eat at The Shelter use on their menu). There are also two flavour additions that can be made to either version of the loaf: Cinnahon - a sprinkle of cinnamon and a dollop extra of honey. Herb - A light sprinkle of dried savoury herbs including Thyme, Marjoram, Rosemary, Parsley, Sage & Basil. Customer’s can pre order for pick up each Friday by emailing me at hello@themidnightbaker.co.nz Which loaf is your personal favourite? And which topping would you have on this? My personal favourite is probably the Natural loaf.  The seeds, nuts and oats have a nice nutty flavour that pairs well with anything. Lately I’ve been enjoying slices of toast with avocado, sliced red onion, cucumber and wood smoked salmon. The Cinnahon is a close second. It’s amazing toasted with honey, sea salt, a soft poached egg and more cracked sea salt. I know that sounds weird but honestly, it’s the best thing ever. Best loaf and topping combo to go with your morning coffee? A big dollop of almond butter with sliced banana and cinnamon goes perfectly with my morning cup of tea. I’m pretty addicted to nut butters. And tea... - Come into Eat at The Shelter to try all of The Midnight Baker's options.