You could almost hear the tinkling bell to Bilbo Baggins’ hobbit hole, as Turner Job Corps (TJC) Culinary Arts students entered the door of The Bread House and Granary.  The newly renovated bakery, located at 520 N. Jefferson, welcomed their guests with a warm hearth, good food, and lessons around the kitchen.

                Tyler Carlisle, who conducted the front of the house tour, showed off the patio garden of newly planted wheat grass before taking the students through the party room, decorated in industrial chic.  Students marveled at the over-sized table, bamboo chairs, unique lighting, and collection of silver serving pieces.  Before turning the students over to the kitchen tour, she made sure to share samples of Texas chocolate cake, yummy blueberry pound cake, and wheat grass smoothies. 

                Chef Bronwyn Hinton introduced the students to the kitchen, checking their culinary knowledge along the way.   Then on to the bread mill where they learned about the short life of freshly milled flour.  Students passed the wrapping station and then an active area where pecan pies were being made for Sunnyland Farms.  They moved on to the oven where a test recipe for the National Association of Pecan Growers was under development.  Chef Hinton talked about the special considerations given when cooking with fresh, local ingredients such as the blueberries which arrived from 30 miles outside of Albany.  The students were invited to be taste testers, surely a difficult job.  

While the bakery is the obvious attraction to The Bread House, the unique business plan is a show stopper.  Entrepreneur and owner, Debbie Mazur, partners with GraceWay Recovery House for Women to run the business and share the profits.  This type of servant leadership really touched the hearts of TJC students. 

TJC partners with community members and businesses throughout the greater Albany area to help educate, train and shape the young people engaged in training on the center.  With over 29 hard and soft skill trades, there is a place for anyone.  If you lead with a servant heart and want more information, contact Beth Brown, Business Community Liaison at 229-430-8500 ext. 230.