Yijia Bakery Introduction
Transforming his father's ophthalmology clinic into a bread experiment venue, "Yijia Bakery" is located across from the Chiayi City Museum of Arts, in a white bakery building. The baker's name is Yijia, and since the location is near the Chiayi Railway Station, the name is a homophone for "station house." The building was initially his father's ophthalmology clinic, which Yijia later took over to start his own business, bringing back the baking skills he learned in Taipei. He worked for five years at the renowned bakery LE GOUT, coinciding with the era when Master Wu Pao-chun gained international acclaim in baking competitions. Influenced by several famous chefs, he decided to apply what he learned and combine European-style bread with Japanese baking techniques to develop unique breads that are true to the flavor of the ingredients and full of character. Yijia's journey as a baker has been smooth, with many mentors along the way. He cherishes the memory of his mentor, Teacher Yeh, who sent him a handwritten compendium of recipes before passing away, reminiscent of the master-apprentice legacy in martial arts novels. While tasting his signature squid bagel, one can almost feel the vibrant energy of natural yeast in the bread's texture. Image source: Chiayi City Government Tourism Bureau | Photographer: Margo
