An obsession with English muffins spawns a new business: Skillet Bakery in Redwood City | Peninsula Foodist | Elena Kadvany | Palo Alto Online |

Local Blogs

Peninsula Foodist

By Elena Kadvany

About this blog: Get the latest food news with the biweekly Peninsula Foodist newsletter.
We are constantly on the lookout for new and undiscovered meals, from Michelin-starred restaurants to tac...  (More)

View all posts from Elena Kadvany

An obsession with English muffins spawns a new business: Skillet Bakery in Redwood City

Uploaded: Apr 2, 2021

Skillet Bakery, a new cottage food business in Redwood City, specializes in sourdough English muffins. Photo courtesy Frank Shanahan.

During the coronavirus shutdown, when Frank Shanahan wasn't working or taking care of his two young children, he was baking.

He dove into sourdough bread (and was also making chocolate from scratch) but ultimately became stuck on perfecting the English muffin. Last weekend, he launched Skillet Bakery, a cottage food business selling sourdough English muffins in Redwood City and at the San Carlos Farmers Market.

"I didn't necessarily intend to become a baker but I at least am currently diving into the profession," he said.

Shanahan studied marine engineering at the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo and went on to a career in the shipping industry, selling HVAC systems and engines. He later went to Santa Clara University for a master in business administration degree and dreamed of starting his own business, before the births of his children and the coronavirus threw a wrench in that.

During the pandemic, he started cooking for a low-income community in Redwood City, and explored baking more. English muffins in particular engaged him as he repeatedly tweaked his recipe to yield soft, buttery creations with the "nooks and crannies that are quintessential to an English muffin," he said. Key to this was finding the right blend of artisan flours from Central Milling in Petaluma, including high-protein flours and one that's malted.


Frank Shanahan's English muffins. Photo courtesy Frank Shanahan.

Shanahan said his English muffins have an intense sourdough flavor and are more dense than commercially produced versions at the grocery store. He lets the dough ferment over 24 to 48 hours, proofs it and then bakes the muffins on a skillet or griddle on the stovetop with avocado oil and butter.

"Then you cool it, fork it open, pop in the toaster and enjoy," he said.

Shanahan plans to eventually sell more flavors of English muffins, like cinnamon raisin, garlic herb and chives.

You can find Shanahan at the San Carlos Farmers Market every other week (Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or preorder to pick up in Redwood City on Thursdays and Fridays between noon and 6 p.m. For more information and to order, go to skilletbakeryrwc.com.
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Mary Ruth Leen, a resident of Midtown,
on Apr 2, 2021 at 7:40 pm

Mary Ruth Leen is a registered user.

YUM! I'm coming for those muffins!


Posted by Joy Chase, a resident of another community,
on Apr 6, 2021 at 11:35 am

Joy Chase is a registered user.

I live in Redwood City and was excited to read that these English muffins are available in RWC --they are not, they are available in San Carlos --which is a DIFFERENT CITY. They MAY be available in RWC someday... JC


Follow this blogger.
Sign up to be notified of new posts by this blogger.

Email:

SUBMIT

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.

Stay informed.

Get the day's top headlines from Palo Alto Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.

Analysis/paralysis: The infamous ‘Palo Alto Process’ must go
By Diana Diamond | 7 comments | 2,413 views

Common Ground
By Sherry Listgarten | 3 comments | 2,007 views

The Time and Cost Savings of Avoiding a Long Commute
By Steve Levy | 6 comments | 1,730 views

Planting a Fall Garden?
By Laura Stec | 5 comments | 1,199 views

 

Sign-up now for 5K Run/Walk, 10k Run, Half Marathon

The 39th annual Moonlight Run and Walk is Friday evening, September 29. Join us under the light of the full Harvest Moon on a 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run or half marathon. Complete your race in person or virtually. Proceeds from the race go to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, benefiting local nonprofits that serve families and children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

REGISTER