The Power of a Pandemic Pivot with Bunhead Bakery's Sara Assad-Mannings

Author: Dixie Fingal-Rock Innes
Published: Fri 18 Jul 2025
Episode Link: https://shows.acast.com/roots/episodes/the-power-of-a-pandemic-pivot-bunhead-bakery

In this episode, I sits down with Sara Assad-Mannings, the co-owner of Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill. Specializing in sourdough buns that blend traditional baking with vibrant Palestinian flavours, Sara’s creations tell a story of home, culture, and resilience. Sara shares her journey from working in TV to launching a beloved bakery during the pandemic, and discusses how she explores her Palestinian-British identity through the rich and flavourful food she creates.

Key Takeaways

Food as a Gateway to Identity: Sara explains how creating BunHead gave her the confidence to explore and take ownership of her Palestinian heritage, connecting with her identity through ingredients like allspice and sumac.
The Power of a Pandemic Pivot: Sara's journey into professional baking began after a planned job fell through at the start of the 2020 lockdown. This led her to create what would become a successful business, starting with sourdough deliveries from her dad's house.
Community is Built Through Sharing: From memories of large, communal family meals in Palestine to the design of her own supper clubs, Sara believes food is a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering connection.
A Balanced Approach to Flavour: Disliking overly sweet baked goods, Sara focuses on creating a sophisticated balance in her buns. Her use of salt and complex spices results in bakes that perfectly hit the spot between sweet and savoury.

Episode Highlights:

01:52 - Sara discusses her Palestinian-British heritage.
04:50 - The story of how the 2020 pandemic lockdown led to the birth of BunHead Bakery.
12:05 - Sara breaks down her signature bun flavours, each representing a different part of her life and heritage.
27:15 - Sara shares food memories from visiting Palestine, highlighting communal eating and her love for a traditional breakfast.
32:08 - Sara reveals the three ingredients she could not live without and how they connect to her identity.

About the Guest