Named after the ‘Little Bear’constellation Ursa Minor, Dara and Ciara O’hArtghaile’s unusual bakery and café is a small business with a big heart.
Specialising in traditional sourdough and fresh yeast breads along with rustic-style patisserie, they are among just a handful of Real Bread Ireland (realbreadireland.org) members in Northern Ireland and the secret of their popularity is, as they say themselves, “We like to keep things simple and try to do just a few things - but do them really well.”
Those few things include delicious light vegetarian lunches showcasing seasonal local produce, as well as the irresistible pastries and sweet bakes that go so well with their speciality teas and coffees.
They're also among the new wave of bakers who are experimenting with different grains, with the aim of developing a really good sourdough that's made with locally grown (or at least Irish) grains, instead of using imported flour.
And, keen to spread the word on Slow Food and sustainability, these Economusée (artisansaloeuvre.com) ‘Artisans at work’ members share their craft downstairs on storyboards - and also offer tours and workshops. And, in the not too distant future, they plan to open a dedicated baking school just across the road.
The real deal.
***There's also a dinky little Ursa Minor Minor at Ballintoy, that's open seasonally - probably 11am-4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday to the end of September. Ther's a small seating area and they serve their usual delicious bakes and bread plus a nourishing salad option, plus hot and cold drinks. Just the spoy for a break whjen you're 'f doing the coast'
