The Power of a Pandemic Pivot with Bunhead Bakery's Sara Assad-Mannings

In this episode, I sits down with Sara Assad-Mannings, the co-owner of Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill. Specializing in sourdough buns that blend traditional baking with vibrant Palestinian flavours, Sara’s creations tell a story of home, culture, and resilience. Sara shares her journey from working in TV to launching a beloved bakery during the pandemic, and discusses how she explores her Palestinian-British identity through the rich and flavourful food she creates.

Key Takeaways

• Food as a Gateway to Identity: Sara explains how creating BunHead gave her the confidence to explore and take ownership of her Palestinian heritage, connecting with her identity through ingredients like allspice and sumac.
• The Power of a Pandemic Pivot: Sara's journey into professional baking began after a planned job fell through at the start of the 2020 lockdown. This led her to create what would become a successful business, starting with sourdough deliveries from her dad's house.
• Community is Built Through Sharing: From memories of large, communal family meals in Palestine to the design of her own supper clubs, Sara believes food is a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering connection.
• A Balanced Approach to Flavour: Disliking overly sweet baked goods, Sara focuses on creating a sophisticated balance in her buns. Her use of salt and complex spices results in bakes that perfectly hit the spot between sweet and savoury.

Episode Highlights:

• 01:52 - Sara discusses her Palestinian-British heritage.
• 04:50 - The story of how the 2020 pandemic lockdown led to the birth of BunHead Bakery.
• 12:05 - Sara breaks down her signature bun flavours, each representing a different part of her life and heritage.
• 27:15 - Sara shares food memories from visiting Palestine, highlighting communal eating and her love for a traditional breakfast.
• 32:08 - Sara reveals the three ingredients she could not live without and how they connect to her identity.
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About the Guest

• Instagram: @‌bunheadbakery
• Website: https://www.bunheadbakery.com

Episode Links

• Za'atar: Yaffa
• Palestinian Olive Oil: Zaytoun & Othmana

Connect with Dixie:

Instagram: ⁠@dixierocksfood

Website: ⁠https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/

Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ).

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Dixie:

Instagram: ⁠@dixierocksfood

Website: ⁠https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/

Substack: https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

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