Tertulia

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
Tertulia was born from Sam’s obsession with bread and sourdough. It emerged in an uncertain moment—March 21, 2020—with the pandemic looming, the threat of closing, and only the essentials to begin: a table, an oven, and a basket.

Since then, what makes us different is that Tertulia is an organic place. It grows with its community and changes over time, just as people do. What you see today will probably be somewhere else tomorrow, or have a different color. That’s why we define the project as a living craft bakery.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
We love testing and creating. Many ideas never make it to the display—they first go through the team. The entire staff tastes, shares opinions, and evaluates from different angles. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, some of those trials also reach the hands of those who visit us.

If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Even though it’s a small space, there’s something you shouldn’t miss: walking in, smelling the freshly brewed coffee, and seeing trays of bread just out of the oven. Sometimes, the bread doesn’t even make it to the display—it’s gone along the way.

What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
The process hasn’t been easy. We’ve learned to adapt, but also to stand firm in what we believe in. It’s a constant push and pull that is now part of our everyday life.

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
What guides us is one word: honesty. And the idea that something small can have a big impact on its surroundings.

What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
If we could invite someone to collaborate, we would love to share the workshop with Kitty Tait or Ed Tatton. Something very interesting would surely come out of that encounter.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
Lately, we’ve been playing The Celestial Suite from Pale Jay. We like to start the day with that record—music is very important at Tertulia.

Answers by Sam and Fragoso from Tertulia