Bread & Pies the Old Way in Sifnos

We visit a local home, work with a wood-fired oven and bake with our hands.

In this bread and pies experience in Sifnos we visit a local house and join the whole process of making bread the old way. We use traditional tools, we light and feed a wood-fired oven, and we prepare the dough together.

During the procedure we talk, explain, knead and shape the loaves and the pie. We also prepare a simple pie to bake alongside the bread. While we wait for the dough to rise and for the oven to be ready, we keep working, tasting and talking. You see how many small steps are hidden behind a piece of bread on the table.

Along the way we speak about why bread was a necessity in the past and why there are still Greeks who feel that a table without bread is not really complete. It is a very practical activity, but also a quiet way to understand how important bread has always been in everyday life here.

Making bread the traditional way in Sifnos

What we bake & what you take with you

We focus on two things: bread and pie. We prepare a simple, tasty bread and a pie that uses ingredients you can find easily at home. The idea is not to create something complicated, but to show you the old way of making and baking them.

We knead the dough by hand, shape the loaves and form the pie together. You see how we handle the dough, how we judge when it is ready and how we use the wood-fired oven. At the end, we taste what we have baked and you take some bread and pie with you to enjoy later.

The recipes are given on paper, with small notes from our time together, so you can try them again in your own kitchen.

Ingredients, dietary notes & who this is for

As in the other activities, foodstuffs are fresh and local. Ingredients are bought on the same day from the market or come from friends’ gardens. Most groceries come from small Greek producers.

Within this context, it is important that you let me know in advance about:

Food allergies
Eating disorders
Ingredients you strongly dislike

There is no gluten-free version of this experience. Bread and pies are all about flour and dough, so it is not suitable for guests who must avoid gluten.

The activity is suitable for vegetarians, but not for vegans, because we use eggs and feta cheese in the pie.

Outdoor setting & small island details

The whole procedure takes place outside the house, not inside. We work in a courtyard or yard, close to the wood-fired oven. It feels like visiting a neighbour to bake bread and pies together.

Because it is fully outdoors, it is normal to have small insects flying around and to see a few cats passing by or relaxing nearby. They are not sitting with us at the table, but they are around, as they usually are in island yards.

For this reason, the experience is not suitable for guests who are seriously allergic to insects or cats, or who feel very uncomfortable with small creatures near them. If your sensitivity is mild and you still wish to join, it is a good idea to bring anything you usually use for your allergies.

Practical details

Location: Local home in Sifnos, outdoors next to a wood-fired oven
Type of experience: Hands-on bread and pie making with a local host
Host: Experienced English-speaking local host
Duration: Around 3 hours, including baking and tasting
Group size: 2–10 persons
Setting: Fully outdoors, with small insects and some cats around
Transfers: Transfers to and from the house can be included on request with an extra cost.

To ask about dates, starting times or to plan this as part of a special day (for example a family gathering or a small group of friends), please send me a request with your preferred dates, the number of people and any dietary notes.

Where does the bread & pies experience take place?

The bread & pies experience takes place at a local home in Sifnos, in an outdoor yard next to a traditional wood-fired oven. We are not in a bakery or a professional school. You visit a real house, we work with the oven outside and we bake in the same place where local families still cook.
Will I actually knead the dough and shape the bread?

Yes. This is a hands-on activity, not only a demonstration. You will knead the dough, shape the loaves, help with the pie and see how we use traditional tools and the wood-fired oven. We talk and explain each step, but the idea is that you feel the dough in your hands and understand the process.
Do you offer a gluten-free version of this experience?

No. There is no gluten-free version of this experience. Bread and pies are based on flour and dough, and we work with them throughout the session. For this reason, this activity is not suitable for guests who must avoid gluten completely.
Is the experience suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

The experience is suitable for vegetarians, but not for vegans. We use eggs and feta cheese in the pie, and these are important parts of the recipe. If you are vegetarian or have specific preferences, please tell me in advance so that I can adjust small details where possible.
Is it suitable for people with allergies to insects or cats?

Because the whole activity takes place outside, you will probably see small insects and a few cats in the yard. They do not sit with us at the table, but they are around. If you have a serious allergy to insects or cats, this experience is not recommended. With mild sensitivities, you may join if you bring whatever you normally use to manage your allergies.
How long does the experience last and how many people can join?

The bread & pies experience lasts around 3 hours. This includes the time we spend kneading and shaping the dough, waiting for it to rise, baking in the wood-fired oven and tasting what we have made. The group size is between 2 and 10 persons, so everyone has the chance to participate.
What do I take home at the end?

At the end of the activity, you take some of the bread and pie you helped to prepare and bake. You also receive the recipes on paper, with small notes from our time together, so that you can try to recreate them in your own kitchen.
How can I book the bread & pies experience in Sifnos?

To book, please send me a request through the contact page with your preferred date, the number of people in your group and any dietary information or allergies I should know about. I will answer personally with availability and the practical details so that we can confirm the best time for you.