We asked Irina, our Senior Baker in Temple Fortune, our Baker’s Dozen of questions to find out about life in our kitchen in NW11.
1. What time did you get up this morning?
I usually get up at 4am on work days, 7am if I’ve got the day off.
2. How do you take your coffee?
I like to drink my coffee while reading the news in the morning. I have it black, with no sugar.
3. What do you usually have for breakfast?
For breakfast, my favourites are porridge or yoghurt.
4. How long have you been working for GAIL’s?
I’ve worked at GAIL’s for eight years now, starting as Baker and working my way up to Senior Baker in Temple Fortune. Everything that I have accomplished here is because I love my job, to which I fully dedicate myself. I like to think I cook tasty food and I try to make all of our customers happy, so that they’ll come back again tomorrow.
5. What’s the first food you remember loving as a child?
As a child, I loved when my mother made me pancakes with jam, yoghurt and honey. I still love pancakes – they make me reminisce about my childhood.
6. Have you ever baked bread?
I don’t bake bread but I love baking cakes and cookies.
7. What does the smell of freshly baked bread remind you of?
It reminds me of my home country, Lithuania – we’re known for our bread and pastry. On almost every corner, there’s a bakery selling freshly baked bread, buns and bagels.
8. What do you spread on your toast?
Butter. I love toasted rye bread with butter.
9. What is the best part of your day?
A cozy evening after everything is done, so I can relax with a good book.
10. What’s in your ultimate sandwich?
Buttered rye bread with ham, cheese and tomato.
11. If we could give you a lifetime supply of anything from GAIL’s, what would that be? Why is this item your favourite?
I love our Feta & Pepper Brioche and the Spinach Rolls. Both are so delicious, especially when they’ve just come out of the oven.
12. Our bread is made with three primary ingredients. Four if you include time. What are the main ingredients in your life and work, concrete or abstract?
In life, love, patience and care are essential.
13. What would you do for a living, if not this?
If I wasn’t working at GAIL‘s, I’d probably be working in another kitchen as I love to make people happy by cooking delicious food.