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Like many people, I went through a pandemic bread-baking phase. But I soon decided I’d rather leave it to the experts. BMB Creations Bakery in downtown Conway are definitely the experts.
Marcin and Beata Burczyc started BMB Creations as a home bakery before opening a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Conway in March 2022. Their breads and pastries became popular at events such as the Downtown Conway Farmers’ and Crafts Market and Conway Business Expo.
“Monster” Sourdough Bread
Their sourdough is the bakery star. A monthly schedule details which loaves are available each day, including such varieties as cheddar jalapeño, whole wheat, five seed, rye, sun-dried tomato and garlic, chocolate, garlic parmesan, cranberry ginger, maple oat, and turmeric ginger. As enticing as these flavors are, I crave the most basic version, and I’m not alone. On a recent visit, Marcin was promoting the day’s turmeric ginger loaf to a customer, who said, “It sounds really good, but I just really like the classic version.”
Sourdough bread takes much longer to prepare than yeasted bread because it is a wild yeast that has been cultivated by mixing flour and water. Commercial yeast has been manipulated to work in a short amount of time. BMB Creations proofs their sourdough bread for about 30 hours, which gives them a greater depth of flavor.
They refer to their own sourdough starter as their “monster.” A recent post on Instagram said, “The monster may not be an actual person, but she is our hardest working employee at BMB.” The starter is affected by temperature changes inside and outside, as well as the amount of food – water and flour – they give it each day.
Ambitious customers can even buy their own fresh or dehydrated sourdough starter from BMB Creations.
Scientists, nutritionists and health experts generally agree that naturally fermented sourdough bread is healthier than conventional white or whole wheat bread – for a multitude of reasons. Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest and has a lower glycemic index. Sourdough also contains less gluten than other bread and has fewer preservatives. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.
“Being a father and a husband, my goal is to stay healthy and be an example to our younger generations,” Marcin Burczyc says on the BMB Creations website. “Bread should not have a laundry list of ingredients. If it has something I cannot pronounce, I do not want to eat it. Our breads have only three ingredients — water, salt and flour. That’s it. And of course, lots of love, passion, dedication and commitment.”
Although I believe a great loaf of bread with butter can make a meal, BMB Creations also offers lunch specials that include rotating sandwiches and soups. They also serve a variety of breakfast or lunch panini sandwiches from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are open Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is limited seating inside, as well as a few tables and chairs outside. As you might expect, a recent Friday lunchtime trip with four people proved quite busy, so plan your visits accordingly.
On Friday and Saturday, you can get Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches on house-made French baguettes. Other treats include pretzels and focaccia. Of course, you’ll want to save room for dessert or take a box (or two) to go. From mini Bundt cakes and brownies to cinnamon rolls and scones to babka in flavors like chocolate, berry and lemon, you’ll immediately begin planning your next visit to “the monster.”
IG: @bmbcreation
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