Rolser Stair-Climbing Rolling Cart

Merrill embraces a new way to get dinner on the table.

  A lovely thing about recipes is their capacity to travel quickly. From every known corner of the world they come, alighting upon our computer screens, and then — if we're feeling particularly ambitious one summer night — on our own kitchen tables. It ensures that even if we can't make it to that island off the coast of Greece or to the hills of Northeastern China, we can still eat like we were born there.  And even if we will never visit the cosy street corner in Stellenbosch, South Africa where Nook Eatery resides, we can still get there by daydream, traveling via the sun-dappled photos and simple-but-oh-so sweet recipes they regularly feature on their blog.   

We're celebrating the artisans, writers, makers, and more who make up the diverse and inspiring world of food. Today: Wendy Smith Born shares a day at Metropolitan Bakery with Supply Chain, from baking bread in the wee hours of the morning to shopping for cheese at the local farmer's market. Wendy Smith Born is the co-owner of Metropolitan Bakery, a Philadelphia institution since it was founded in 1993. Together, she and pastry chef James Barrett have created a home for their quality, artisanal bread and other baked goods, as well as local jams, cheeses, and spreads. In addition to their bakery, Wendy and James co-authored the Metropolitan Bakery Cookbook, brimming with recipes for their signature cookies, cakes, pies, and more.  Here she shows us what a typical Saturday looks like around the bakery, along with pastry chef James Barrett -- their days start early.