The relationship with Mel started on Facebook. I commented on her page, praising an article on her by MC Farine. And that’s how I got to know the wonderful Mel Darbyshire, Head Baker at Grand Central Bakery in Seattle. Mel is a leader in the sourcing of local grains, helping bakers (and bakeries) shift  off big-ag’s commodity flour. Along the way, she has been generous with sharing her deep knowledge of everything around baking and what goes into it. 

Formally teaching, there’s one course of hers I hope to someday take: Start Where You Are — Using and Troubleshooting Local Grains, which she has taught alongside another baker we’ve had on Stir the Pots, Sophie Williams. Anyway, recently Mel slid into my DMs to let me know she was in New York for an event and suggested we finally meet up. And so I made my way to Brooklyn, and we finally made it happen. Welcome to the show.”