Tanya was once the entrepreneur behind a successful Ontario-based technology company.  After many years of hard work, she decided that it was time for an adventure. She sold the business and family farm, packed up the family (which also included their 185 pound Newfoundland dog and two cats) and went for a drive. She stopped when the road ended. She landed in beautiful British Columbia. Vancouver to be exact.

But one thing was missing. Great bread.  Schooled in Montreal, where bread is a passion, her sights were set on a higher standard. On a trip to Sonoma County, Tanya met Keith Giusto – a forth generation artisan baker who trained the US Olympic Baking Team, a renowned artisan baker known for his dedication to bread made through the trinity of the farmer, miller and baker, using the highest quality ancient grains.  She sampled his Rosemary Ciabatta, and fell in love with this unique brand of artisan baking. This was the moment that Tanya decided she was going to bring exquisite artisan baking to Vancouver – A Bread Affair was born.

Tanya trained under Keith in a small northern California bakery, until she was able to perfect her techniques, and fully understand bread making.

Once back in Vancouver, she spent 7 days a week, usually 10 – 14 hours a day mixing, fermenting, shaping and baking each artisan crafted loaf, essentially perfecting her craft. She spent time understanding the science and art of artisan bread which embodies the saying on the wall above the Granville Island Bakery: “The Alchemy and Artistry of our Bread”

One legacy of her time in Sonoma County is A Bread Affair’s sourdough starter. Developed from the skins of hand picked white zinfandel grapes, harvested in Napa Valley in October of 1986, it is the soul of our bakery.   And if you ever join her team, she will be happy to share with you her creed that just as you can’t make great wine or great cheese in a month or two, great bread needs time to develop as well. Every loaf is only baked when it’s ready, to allow the flavor to fully develop and be the absolute best for you. Then you, too, will share her story of the starter used in the bread and her passion.

Behind every great baker is a great team of artisans and professionals dedicated to bringing you the best each day. Our team is just as passionate for great bread as Tanya is – it’s part of our secret recipe. We are not able to do what we do without our family of committed individuals creating your bread every day.