My birthday falls a week before Christmas so it can get lost in the hubub of holiday madness (which includes the busiest time of the year at the bakery)! Fortunately, although I spent a few hours fulfilling Breadness gift orders for shipping to all parts of the country that day, Cyndie, myself and longtime friend, Randy Levin, still made it to the Santa Monica Pier to have dinner with my sisters Francie and Robin before walking over to Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA which is in town through January 5th.

We were fortunate to have discovered Cirque du Soleil in 1987, just after their first US appearance at the LA Street Scene festival in DTLA. A friend had seen it there and raved about it, so another friend bought tickets for the show when it moved to San Diego (she got a group of front row center seats as no one had heard of the show yet so great seats were available!).

We all trekked down to SD and saw the most amazing show EVER! It was called "Le Cirque Reinventé" and they truly had reinvented the circus as we knew it. Of special note, besides the incredible acts, the story line and the costumes, was the MUSIC! The original score by René Dupéré, performed live under the Grand Chapiteau, blew me away and inspired my own compositions, most notably, the score for The Snow Queen Ballet, which I composed in 1998 and the show ran for 18 seasons over 20 years!

We became huge Cirque fans and went to as many shows over the years as possible. Although they were all outstanding aesthetically, there was something about that first show that was unique: the story portrayed how a person who appeared to be nothing special, could imagine himself as something amazing, and that dream could come true. I think all of us can identify with that.

"KOOZA is an innovative journey viewed through the perspective of The Innocent, an endearing yet naïve clown looking for his place in the world. A mystery item is delivered to The Innocent one day when he is flying his kite. The self-discovery journey of The Innocent, who is miraculously transferred to a bizarre but exotic world, is followed in KOOZA under the watchful eye of an enigmatic trickster with remarkable abilities." — Cirque du Soleil website

What we saw Wednesday night had a similar vibe to the original show in that the story line was a throwback to Cirque's beginnings. If you can, you should definitely experience KOOZA before it ends January 5th.

As for the above photo... There's significance to my hat, the dog and the kite that Cyndie is holding. It will all make sense when you see the show!

Special kudos to my sister Francie (who treated all of us to the show) and Randy Levin (who we've dubbed Lev's Limo Service) who did a masterful job of getting us there and back on a busy Wednesday night (and for gifting us the above photo)!

Bread dough was mixing with a mighty roar!
Bread loaves were baking. a dozen or more
And customers were lining up outside the door!

Laura Ann's Jams were stocked on the shelf
While Tapenades and Honeys were arranged by an elf!
Gnomes were smiling from their hiding places
(Which is really strange as one can't see their faces!)

Chef Randall was stirring up a hot pot of candy
A skill for which he has recently turned handy!
These caramels are healthy and sugar-free
Is it possible Chef Randall's made history?

Santa's been busy fulfilling his list
With gifts from Breadness, does Mrs. Claus insist!
Like EVOO from Ojai and Balsamics, too
With so many choices what's Santa to do?

There's wood boards for cutting that look like guitars
They're sure to inspire your future Rock Stars! 
And let's not forget about Tea Towels and Totes
And Butter and Rolls, (are you taking notes?)

With Gingerbread Sourdough just for the season
And Cinnamon Raisin it just stands to reason
That presents from Breadness make spirits so bright
So come down and see us before Christmas Night!

by Randall Michael Tobin, December 2024

Holiday Schedule...

With Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Wednesdays this year, I looked at how we could be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Well, I don't see how we can work in another 3-day sourdough cycle to be able to bake on Monday or Tuesday, and still have some time to celebrate ourselves.

That said, we will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (Tuesdays from 11a to 4p) so you can pick up last-minute gifts and items for your Christmas Day and New Year's Day festivities.

We will have a supply of fresh-cured frozen Breadness loaves including our signature Country Loaf, Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough and GingerBreadness sourdough breads (sliced and unsliced), which thaw and rehydrate perfectly (following the provided instructions). And whatever complementary items we have left (after Santa fills his sleigh), we'll be glad to fill your bag as well!

If ordering on line for pickup on the above "Eves" choose the "unfrozen" breads on our website and we'll reserve frozen loaves for you on those days.

It's hard to say when we'll sell out so best to order on line if you can.



Cheese, Grommit...

Do you remember the original Wallace and Gromit videos that came out in the late 80s/early 90s? What amazing creations by storyteller and stop-motion claymation genius, Nick Park! We bought the Box Set as soon as it was available and watched them numerous times over the years, (usually in "RandyVision®", a name coined by our good friend, Ray Korns, after attending some of our projection screen and surround sound screenings of movies at our home).

One of Wallace's oft-repeated phrases was "Cheese, Gromit!" You see, Wallace, an aspiring inventor, loved CHEESE. And Gromit, Wallace's faithful four-legged, was Wallace's only sounding board. Hence, the CHEESE connection.

As I was thinking of more items to make available at Random Acts of Breadness which go with our artisan breads, I realized that a good cheese to start with is Raw Cheddar from Raw Farm. I've been using this mild cheddar cheese for years at home so I ordered several 1-pound blocks which are available now at the bakery. The web page for the cheese may not be live by the time you read this, but you can ask for it when you come in.

This cheese makes a great Artisan Sourdough Cheese Melt with our Traditional Country Loaf or our Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough. Click here and you'll find my recipe for this Open-Face Cheese Melt.

Wallace and Gromit would most certainly approve...

Here's what's available from our organic/non-GMO hand-crafted kitchen this week:

> Macadamia Nut Caramels! - Sugar-free, Keto/Plant Paradox-friendly
> Salted Caramels! - Sugar-free, Keto/Plant Paradox-friendly
> Artisan Sourdough Country Loaves (full-size boule, batard, petite)
> Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough Loaves (full-size boule, petite)
> GingerBreadness Sourdough Loaves (petite size only)
> Artisan Sourdough Crisps (Naked, Herb, Smoked)
> Artisan Sourdough Country Loaf Rolls! (4 per bag) 
> Blueberry Muffins - Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Keto/Plant Paradox-friendly
> Beverages - Chocolate Chill, Balsamic Breeze

Order the above (and any of our other artisan products) at breadness.com/#shop. If a product is visible in the online shop, it's in stock (except for the Caramels which are not on the website yet but are available at the bakery until sold out). If you don't see a product in the online shop, it's sold out (but we might be making more, in which case the counter will be set to the available quantity).

Also, we can slice your bread(s) different thicknesses. Our most popular are Medium (about 1/2") and Thin (about 3/8") but we can do in between as well. Just ask! If ordering on line, enter your slicing preference(s) in the Special Instructions box during Checkout.

And Remember... we also carry the finest and freshest Organic Olive Oils from Ojai, Aged Balsamics from Modena, Keto-friendly Nut Butters from Yemetz Family Farms and NuttZo, Jamazing Jams from Laura Ann in Eagle Rock, Solar Grown Honey Spreads from Clif Family in Napa, Tasty Tapenades from Lisa Grabow in Pasadena, and the Best Butters from Raw Farm in Fresno.

Do we ship? Absolutely! 
If you (or someone you wish to gift) live within 120 miles of Los Angeles, we can ship on Wednesday or Thursday (via UPS Ground) and in most cases your Breadness Box will arrive on Thursday or Friday. Place your order before Wednesday morning here. If you live outside of So Cal, we can now ship 2-Day Air* (or Ground service) on Wednesday (unsliced bread) for Friday delivery (orders that require 2-Day Air shipping must be in by Wednesday morning!). Join our growing list of nationwide customers who look forward to receiving their Breadness deliveries on a regular basis! *Note: 2-Day Air shipments not available Christmas or New Year's week.

Let's Connect!
Random Acts of Breadness is located at 2214 West Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank (2-1/2 blocks east of Buena Vista on the south side of the street). Come to the bakery and sample our artisan wares, or order on line for bakery pickup, or have Breadness delivered or shipped to your door. You may also order by phone at 818-562-7303 and pay when you come pick it up. We're open this week Thursday, Friday & Saturday 12 to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.