By: Lynn Attwood

Lynn Attwood — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 15:27:06 +0000

Hi Mark, I have a well used copy of the York Wholefood Restaurant Cookbook. If its the one you are referring to? Happy to share. Regards Lynn

By: Mark Goodall

Mark Goodall — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:48:13 +0000

Can you remember the wholemeal bread recipe Andrew?

By: Tina Wright

Tina Wright — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:30:00 +0000

I’m the Tina who is mentioned above by Jo Driver! I worked at GWB from about 1983-1986, but I fell in love with the bakery across the street when I was a student at York Uni in the late 70s. I ran the cafe with Blaise and loved every minute of it and all the fabulous people who helped us run it. On my first day Blaise was off for some reason and I ended up soaking a huge pile of beans without realizing how much bigger the pile would be once soaked! We were making a whole lot of bean salad that week! I may have been responsible for the name “Bees Knees” (in retrospect Gillygate Wholefood Bakery Cafe was much more appropriate as a name). We had a wonderful guy who drew up a design and who did our chalkboard menus/messages in the most amazing way–I can’t remember his name. Gill (Carrigan?), who worked in the office, interviewed me–she was also a former teacher and I think that piqued her interest in me–I was so grateful–and grateful too to be a guinea pig for her emerging massage practice! I’ve often wondered where she is now. I was always fascinated by the roots of the co-op and wished I’d known more about it–Mike, Toosh and Andrew (and I’m sure others) were still there of course from the earlier times, but my shift started as the bakers wound up theirs. I remember Karen reigned in the shop (I think it was Karen?) and there was also a wonderful serene woman who wore a headscarf and may have been some kind of a nun? There was also Tofu Ron who came to make the most delectable tofu cheesecakes every week –wish I had those recipes. I left in the summer of 1986 and got married and off to the USA later that year–settling first in San Francisco. The bakery had based many early recipes on the Tassajara bakery in San Fran so I was eager to try that out (just a short distance from our rental at the time) –I was horrified to discover that the Tassajara had gone all Parisian patisserie and were selling chocolate filled croissants! My partner was overjoyed! I miss those days in Millers Yard cooking, serving, cleaning, sitting down for a break in the delightful courtyard. I dropped by last year to see it and I was glad to see that there is still some similar activity–a cafe of sorts? Meditation and yoga? The old Mill Workshop (now Bright Sparks?) was silent and the courtyard was empty–but that may just have been the day I was there? Would love to hear more memories from others about this very special community. And when I have time I’ll look for some photos–thank you so much Lisa for creating this whole York Walks website –it means a lot to reconnect with the past–I will look for photos in my collection if you are interested.

By: Jonathan S

Jonathan S — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:51:16 +0000

Great to come across this. I was a regular at GWB from the mid to the late 80s. The cheese, garlic & thyme loaf was a regular purchase as were the homity pies. Lovely soups, salads and a sense of solidarity too. If memory serves me well one iteration was called “The Bees Knees”.

By: Karl Badger

Karl Badger — Tue, 31 May 2022 20:05:49 +0000

Alas , documents and recipes were lost when the bakery bought a historic former printworks in todmorden .a few bits of equipment are still here. Our bread baking techniques haven’t changed since gillygate, nor will they!!!

By: Karl Badger

Karl Badger — Tue, 31 May 2022 19:53:21 +0000

Cheerful memories of him. Could we get Dylan to arrange a reunion, he’s at the heart of the old place

Comments on: Miller’s Yard and Gillygate Wholefood Bakery

By: Lynn Attwood

By: Mark Goodall

By: Tina Wright

By: Jonathan S

By: Karl Badger

By: Karl Badger