The Mousetrap Theatre - Oxford's Bakery
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Harts of Stur are proud to be sponsoring the Mousetrap theatre at the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival for the third year running. We have a great line up of demonstrations including great chefs featuring delicious recipes, baking fun for the kids and professional masterclasses in wine-making, butchery and curing to name but a few. In the build up to the festival we will be introducing each demonstrator in a mini-bio and series of questions and answers about their work and what they enjoy about the cheese festival. The next blog in our series is all about Steve Oxford from Oxford's Bakery.
Introducing Steve Oxford from Oxford's Bakery
Steve Oxford is the owner and Head Baker for Oxford’s Bakery, based in Alweston in Dorset. Steve is the 4th generation of Bakers in his family to run Oxford’s Bakery. Oxford’s bakery are the original artisan bakers in Dorset. They also run many bread making and patisserie courses also taught by Steve. 
Tell us who or what inspired you to start Oxford's Bakery?
I'd finished dj'ing in New Zealand and had come back for a break. I spoke to my Dad and told him I was ready to work and he told me I needed to get a job! After 8 weeks as a landscape Gardner it was clear I was unemployable so I convinced my father I could add something to the business and he got me in at 4am the next day. I was late for work, it was awkward. However I began experimenting with speciality breads within an hour of working and it just rocketed from there! I have loved every minute of working with my Parents, it makes me so proud. I've really benefited from being part of a family business.
What are you most looking forward to seeing or doing at the Cheese festival?
I absolutely love my little walk around after I've delivered all of the bread, I also get to say hi to a lot of 'foodie friends' and catch up on the summers events. I also have a rather GIGANTICsurprise during my afternoon slot on the Sunday afternoon. I'm very much looking forward to that!!
What is your favourite Cheese?
EEK! It changes regularly and I'm ashamed to say my current favourite is a French cheese called Morbier! Made using a thin layer of ash to separate the mornings milk from the evenings milk. It's not ground breaking, it's just what I like at the moment, I've spent a bit of time in France and thoroughly enjoy it.
What would be your food heaven and what would be your food hell?
My food heaven is small honest food producers of any sort. My food hell is a bakery that just liberally use the word 'artisan', 'traditional' or 'family' to describe itself, when it's clearly mass manufactured!! That really gets my goat!!!
When and Where?
You will be able to see Steve on stage at the Mousetrap Theatre on Sunday 10th September at 3pm. Please come along and we hope you enjoy the Cheese Festival.