"Early in the pandemic, a friend sent me an Instagram post from Dallas’s Kuluntu Bakery. In it, cottage baker Stephanie Leichtle-Chalklen—who is licensed to cook in her own home—and her South African husband Warren Chalklen were lowering a basket of sourdough loaves from their second-story balcony in what was a quite literal weekly baked goods drop. When I came back to Texas for a few months over the winter holidays, I knew I had to try Kuluntu for myself, ordering one of Leichtle-Chalklen’s South African holiday boxes stacked with her rusks, Mrs. Balls–inspired chutney, chocolate Romany Creams cookies, peppermint crisp tart fudge, and a decorative protea as a gift for my mom, who once lived in Johannesburg. Its contents were gone within 72 hours. Last weekend, I went back to Kuluntu, which has since moved to a peachy one-story house in Oak Cliff, for a loaf of sourdough with a perfect crust and decadent chocolate babka knots. My only regret is not ordering more from that week’s drop, like the orange blossom and olive oil challah. The cottage bakery offers pre-orders for cakes, loaves, pastries and more each Monday with pickup on their front porch on Thursdays. If you’re not based in North Texas, you can experience Kuluntu for yourself through Leichtle-Chalklen’s monthly virtual courses, like February’s sourdough pizza party and March’s tart baking class."
