WATCH: This adorable Zejtun baker is keeping local tradition alive through this work
There’s few things which are as soul-pleasing as the smell of freshly baked bread, but life as a baker leaves you immune to one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Such is the case with local baker Manwel: “I don’t smell the aroma in here,” he admits. Meanwhile, customers have a complete opposite reaction: “But when people come in…wow what a wonderful smell!” he narrates.
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Manwel features in a mini-documentary produced jointly by The People of Malta and Torri. Released only yesterday, it has since gone viral.
Ta' Barbetta bakery, where Manwel carries out his work has been around for years and is famous for their buns and yeast rings. The baker himself has been working there for decades: “I started here in 1984 … I was employed by my uncle,” he says.
While he suffers from Monday blues just like everybody else, his dread is easier to excuse when one takes into consideration a crucial detail that sums up a baker’s life: “…from 2.30am till 4.30am I have to be kneading the buns,” he says.
Despite his early starts, Manwel draws great satisfaction from his work: “You feel accomplished first of all for keeping up a tradition and people return to savour what we bake,” he says. Speaking about the death of tradition, he comments that: “it can be lost, but I feel obliged not to let this happen.”
Follow Manwel’s FULL story below:
If you ever needed an excuse to visit Zejtun, this is it!