Spooky Black Bread from the Krazibaker
Food NI member Krazi Baker, an expert in traditional griddle baking techniques, has launched a new artisan Black Bread.
The handcrafted bread is based on a recipe Krazibaker, also known as Mark Douglas, developed for a banquet scene in the hugely popular Game of Thrones TV series. He’s now baking the new bread for retail sales across Northern Ireland.
Based at Dromore in county Down, Krazibaker has developed a successful portfolio on traditional Northern Irish breads, such as soda farls, potato cakes and potato apple, handmade products which have won UK Great Taste Awards. 
Referring to the new Black Bread, he says: “I was approached by the people at Castleward, a National Trust property on Strangford Lough, which is one of the locations in Northern Ireland for Game of Thrones, to come up with a totally different bread for one of the show’s banquet scenes, something dark and brooding in keeping with the show.
“I created a unique Black Bread from three types of flour – white, rye and wholemeal and added honey, Guinness with butter, eggs and yeast. It has a very earthy but moist taste and is particularly well-suited as an accompaniment for stews, soups or with a casserole. Halloween, of course, is an ideal time to introduce a spooky Black Bread! Bread lovers can now experience the new loaf for themselves,” he adds.
Krazibaker has been leading a campaign in Northern Ireland to revive interest in traditional griddle breads including treacle farls and soda breads with ingredients such as chorizo, guanciale, bacon and cheese. He’s also won awards for his traditional Northern Irish shortbread.
As well as traditional griddle breads, he’s also developed sourdough loaves in line with market demand. “There is a growing awareness of the benefits of sourdough in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic of Ireland,” he says.
He also runs Northern Ireland’s only bakery school specialising in traditional Irish breads and in sourdough production.
He’s already selling the sourdough loaves at food festivals and farmers’ markets across Northern Ireland.
