True Loaf Bakery gets starter from two local bakers

When True Loaf Bakery owner Tomas Strulovic's sourdough starter became contaminated, he had two options: start a fresh one, which could take up to two weeks, or reach out for support.

• Two local bakers quickly rose to the occasion : Zak Stern of Zak the Baker and Jesus Brazon of Caracas Bakery.

Driving the news: Late last month, the AC at True Loaf, the beloved Sunset Harbor bakery, gave out.

• Much of the bakery's products are made with sourdough, which is a natural starter and very temperature sensitive.
• Strulovic made adjustments to his starter, hoping to control its fermentation.

Yes, but: The changes left it vulnerable to contamination, which occurred.

• "The bread wasn't rising," he said.

That's where Stern and Brazon came in , each giving Strulovic a bit of their starters so Strulovic could start baking again after just a few days.

• "Honestly, it wasn't a surprise (they helped)," Strulovic told Axios. We respect each other, and it's a community."