Chloe Timms of Fattie’s Bakery is the queen of salted caramel. Her stand on Druid St market in South London is always gloriously laden with an endless variety of sweets – caramel peanut butter, glistening pretzel crackers for dipping, freeze-dried fruit sherbets, and all manner of things squidgy, gooey and moreish, more often than not paired with the clean edge of Halen Môn. Her sticky greaseproof-wrapped chews are our particular favourites, something about the way she makes them means they are more than the sum of their parts.
In anticipation of Halen Môn popping up at the Druid St Market (off Maltby St market) on May 7th, we caught up with Chloe for a quick cup of tea in between batches of caramelizing.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Very boring, I was a part time sales assistant in a shop packed full of fragile objects, I spent most of my time trying so sit absolutely still. I’m quite clumsy!
WHO TAUGHT YOU TO LOVE FOOD?
My Grandma, I lived with her whilst I was young. The Aga was the heart of the home and where I learnt to bake, create a mess and get excited about food. I never had special ‘kiddies’ meals, I ate with the grown ups so was exposed to Granny’s crazy rich concoctions from a young age. Curry puffs and cheesy crab tarts thrown together for lunches at the kitchen table form the corner stone of my youth.
WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?
Strong tea. Too many cups.
WHAT’RE YOUR THREE FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS?
Salt, sugar & cream.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON?
Spring, I love to see things coming back to life and the buzz on the market when the sun comes out it really is magical after the long winter.
WHAT DO YOU EAT WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM A LONG DAY AT WORK?
Good bread and salty butter or hunks of cheese and crisps.
WHAT DOES HALEN MON GO BEST WITH?
I am of course biased, but Halen Môn does a fantastic job of tempering the sweetness of my caramel without leaving a muddy taste. So can I be cheeky and say caramel!?
DESCRIBE WALES IN FIVE WORDS
Wild, comforting, fresh, bountiful & hilly
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD PLATE OF FOOD AND AN AMAZING ONE?
Good ingredients and a loving cook.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SMELL?
Toast.
Images: Lazy Oaf/ Chloe Timms