The Bread Winners You Knead In Your Life

Oprah Winfrey said it best in her Weight Watchers testimonial: "I love bread. I love bread... I don't deny myself bread; I have bread every single day!" You bread our minds, Oprah.

The American queen of chat's love affair with crusty carbs won't have had anything to do with a pre-sliced supermarket loaf, and just like Oprah, we want naan of that! The humble bap, roll and bloomer have been elevated to the highest culinary echelons by genius-level bakers - a fair few of them right here in Melbourne. These are the bready delights you knead in your life.

Loafer Bread
146 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North, 3068

Andrea Brabazon has been making quality products at Loafer Bread since 2007. This bakery prides itself on its use of local and seasonal ingredients, sourced from sustainable suppliers, as well as organic, biodynamic and free range produce whenever possible. Everything they make is small batch, so come early or baguette ready to be disappointed!

Noisette
84 Bay Street, Port Melbourne, 3207

Bakery founder David Menard is a fifth generation baker whose great-grandfather started making homemade bread in 1825. His family tree is laden with patissiers and pastry chefs, so you can crust he knows what he's doing. With shops in Port Melbourne and Bentleigh, plus a regular stall at Prahran Market, there's no excuse not to try their modern twists on old classics, such as the chia loaf or a raisin baguette.

Fatto a Mano Organic Bakery
228 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 3065

Since 2007, Fatto a Mano has been blocking up the sidewalks of Fitzroy with lunch lines. Husband and wife team Mario and Sandra Cucuzza have over 50 years of experience between them. One-hundred percent of their ingredients are organic so ciabatta believe these bakes are top shelf. Hand made on site, push and shove your way to buy anything from their gluten free loafs to brie-filled seeded baguettes or raisin-pumped brioche.

La Madre Bakery
18 Milton Street, Bell Park, 3215

La Madre is leading the way for sustainable bakeries, with a green philosophy that has risen up over the past ten years. Check out their carbon neutral hot cross buns for a guilt-free Easter - they're the first of their kind in Australia. Delectable twists also include shallot and garlic sourdough cob or an olive sourdough made with kalamata olives from the Grampians.