Vanessa teaches you not just how to make bread, but also how to eat bread. She examines each type of bread in relation to its social, cultural and agro-economical context, considering the traditions that determine how it is eaten. Vanessa is concerned by the loss of knowledge that comes with the increasing homogenisation of bread, warning us against the pitfalls of industrialisation; and even against books such as her own, which risk to standardising breads within the artisan bread community.
Vanessa uses photography (such as these taken in Morocco) as a means to share her knowledge and to develop a narrative that inspires people to realise the social, economic, and political effect of bread.
Her baking philosophy is focused on empowering people and fostering a sense of community. She believes in the transformative power of fermentation and sees baking nourishing bread as an act of social justice.
Vanessa’s neurodivergence has undoubtedly influenced her approach to baking (Vanessa was diagnosed with both ADHD and Asperger’s, now commonly referred to as ASD). Aspects of neurodiversity, including monotropism — an intense focus on specific interests — have shaped her perspective and contributed to her distinctive approach to bread.
