The bakery that's letting customers toast their own bread
A bakery-cafe in Melbourne has raised eyebrows over an unusual in-store feature – a toaster where customers can slice their own bread and make their own toast.
At Rustica Sourdough Bakery & Cafe in Fitzroy patrons can purchase their own loaf, slice it themselves, with a chopping board and knife provided, and pop it into the toaster.
“You can make your own toast while waiting for your coffee,” founder and baker Brenton Lang told Yahoo7 News.
“We just thought it was a nice little touch to add to the bakery element of the business,” he added.
Mr Lang said there are toppings, including butter, Vegemite, peanut butter, and a few different flavours of jam at no extra coast, near the device, which is located on a communal table.
“Prop yourself at the table and make yourself at home,” he said.
The business offers artisan breads baked using traditional sourdough techniques and a breakfast and brunch menu.
Mr Lang said there is a large variety of breads available which cost an average of $6.50-$7 per loaf.
He described it as a pretty cheap breakfast out – especially if you’re sharing a loaf with friends.
“(It’s) more to encourage people to buy a loaf of bread rather than ordering a couple of slices off the menu,” Mr Lang said.
Customers are also allowed to bring their own spreads in if desired – not all will be welcome though.
Patrons also aren’t permitted to toast a loaf they haven’t bought in the store.
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The addition has had a mixed reaction online, with some poking fun at the idea.
“Lucky to count my own home as one of the rare, sought after places that you can do this,” one journalist wrote on Twitter.
“I think Melb is slowly teaching hipsters how to cook,” a Reddit user said.
Mr Lang described the initiative as “hit and miss”.
“Sometimes it gets a workout, sometimes it doesn’t, I suppose, it depends on the customer and who is comfortable with it and who’s not,” Mr Lang told 3AW.
The toaster is only found at the Fitzroy location but there are three other sites for the business at the moment with another opening soon in Melbourne Central.
