Rocket Ovens: Another Frivolous Trend Distracting From Real Progress?

Rocket Bakery: A Blast From The Past, Fueling Our Future?

Now, I’ve seen a lot in my years at Jape News. A lot. But this… this is something else. Seems folks are getting downright ambitious with their baking these days. I’m talking about Rocket Bakery, a local establishment that’s, well, taking the term “hot oven” to a whole new level.

I first stumbled upon Rocket Bakery while researching the resurgence of traditional skills – you know, things people used to do before everyone was glued to their handheld devices. And let me tell you, what they're doing isn't your grandma's sourdough starter. They’ve built – and this is where it gets a bit confusing for an old newspaperman like myself – rocket ovens.

Apparently, these aren't the rockets sending men to the moon (though, frankly, with the way things are going, maybe they should be focusing on that again!). No, these are wood-fired ovens designed with a specific airflow system, a sort of internal “rocket” of heat, to achieve incredibly high temperatures. I watched a fascinating video – a bit dated, from 2021 – detailing the construction of these things. Complex, certainly. Necessary? That’s what I’m questioning.

Now, I’m a simple man. A wood-fired oven is a wood-fired oven. Always worked for my mother, always worked for mine. But Rocket Bakery claims this “rocket” technology makes for a superior loaf. They boast about crispy crusts and that authentic, old-world flavor. And honestly, I have to admit, their Facebook page shows a lot of happy customers. Over 3,000 likes, can’t argue with that kind of popularity.

They offer all the usual suspects – breads, pastries, the works. And, curiously, dog biscuits. Dog biscuits! Seems every business these days is trying to appeal to every demographic. I'm sure the dogs don’t care if it’s cooked in a rocket oven or not, as long as it tastes good.

But this whole thing feels… excessive. We’re baking bread, people, not launching satellites. Is this just another example of modern innovation gone wild? A needless complication of a perfectly good process?

I visited the bakery myself this morning, grabbed a coffee (they do serve coffee, which is sensible) and a plain roll. It was… fine. Perfectly acceptable. But was it worth the engineering degree and potential fire hazard required to build a “rocket oven” for? I remain skeptical.

Perhaps it's a good thing, this focus on craftsmanship. A return to traditional methods, even if those methods are being needlessly complicated. Or maybe it's just a fad. Time will tell if Rocket Bakery’s high-tech approach is a flash in the pan, or the future of baking. I, for one, will stick with a good old-fashioned oven, thank you very much. And maybe a nice, simple slice of toast.