Guides//Baking Odyssey: From Vienna to Palma

Baking Odyssey: From Vienna to Palma

Thomas Grasberger, a seasoned baker with a career spanning four decades, has honed his craft in some of Vienna, Austria's most prestigious bakeries, steeped in centuries of tradition. In those early days, the concept of sourdough bread as a separate category didn't exist, as all bread was essentially sourdough. Thomas delved deep into the art of fermentation, understanding its intricate role in bread-making. He discovered how it influences not only the production process but also the final product's texture, taste, and color. It even affects the consumer's enjoyment and digestion. His quest for "real bread" led to the creation of Thomas' Bakeshop, which quickly gained a loyal following and eventually expanded into the Thomas' Bakeshop Boutique in Santa Catalina. This establishment is a testament to the love of bread, striving to create the finest loaves with the simplest ingredients. The secret to their sourdough bread, croissants, laminated pastries, and other Austrian specialties lies in long, cold fermentation.

Mallorca Magic

Guides

20 July 2025

5 Min. Read Time

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From Sourdoughs to Cakes and Macaroons

Thomas' Bakeshop offers a variety of traditional and innovative sourdough bread, all of which undergo a long, cold fermentation process. Their specialties include multi-stage-rye-sourdough rye bread like the classic "Bauernbrot" (German Farmer Bread), as well as denser, seeded bread like Vollkornbrot (whole rye grain) bread, Saftkornbrot (multi-cereal bread), and the hearty Schrottbrot (whole-shredded-grain rye bread), a notch above your typical whole-grain bread. They also feature bread enriched with vegetables, including squash and root vegetables like beetroot and pumpkin. https://www.thomasbakeshop.com/

Delightful Array of Cakes

For those with a sweet tooth, the bakery offers a delightful array of cakes, including muffins, brownies, carrot cake, lemon cakes, and even more unique options like zucchini/broccoli cake (bread). All their cakes are made with spelled flour (ancient wheat) for enhanced flavor and digestibility. Traditional Austrian treats like Apfelstrudel, Zwetschekenfleck (fresh-plum cake), and the occasional (authentic!) Sachertorte, and Germgugelhupf (Brioche) are also on the menu. As the year draws to a close, the bakery indulges its customers with Austrian holiday treats like gingerbread, coconut macaroons, Christmas stollen, and more. All these delicacies are crafted from time-honored recipes gathered from around the globe over the past forty years.

The Power of Simplicity and Organic, Raw Materials

The bakery prioritizes organic, raw materials whenever possible, or at least 'clean' raw materials devoid of additives. They adhere to a minimalist approach, using only the bare minimum ingredients necessary to create their bread and pastries. All breads are handmade, with the only machines being the mixers used to knead the dough. After that, it's all in the skilled hands of their diverse team to shape and finish the loaves.

Finding a Home in Mallorca

Thomas and his wife Michelle have lived and worked in numerous countries, from the Mediterranean to Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt, and have traveled to many more. However, Mallorca felt like home from the start. The island's diverse mix of nationalities made it easy for them to settle in and feel welcome. This multicultural blend, including their Spanish and Mallorquin customers, has helped shape their bakery into the vibrant community hub it is today. With a solid foundation, they anticipate continued growth and an expanding presence. The challenges posed by the pandemic and the ongoing energy crisis have taught them the value of patience and the importance of not overextending themselves. They look forward to serving their community with the same passion and dedication that has defined their journey so far.