Bakery, Bread

A&J King Artisan Bakers

With a wildly popular new book to their credit, Baking By Hand: Make the Best Artisan Breads and Pastries Better Without a Mixer, Andy and Jackie King have done what seemed impossible—elevated their Central Street bakery ever higher. Based in Salem, but well known all over the North Shore for their artisan breads and pastries, the couple claims they “are not doing anything new, just something that has been forgotten.” That may be true, but they are certainly doing something hard to find: unplugged-style baking. For a selection of yeasty yumminess that includes marinated olive sourdough, brown ale and barley bread, English muffin toasting bread, sweet corn and cherry tomato focaccia, and oatmeal cinnamon raisin loaf—there is no place like A&J King Artisan Bakers. The “time, effort, and especially patience” they devote to their dough is evident in every bite—always fresh, always excellent. It is said that a good baker has a healthy nose for testing fermentation; a skilled hand for kneading, molding, and shaping; and a keen eye for telling when dough is ready for the oven and bread is ready to eat. A&J King bakers are masters at all of the above.

48 Central St., Salem, 978-744-4881, ajkingbakery.com

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A&J King Artisan Bakers