Local restaurant ‘blends’ unique mixer collection

MARBLE FALLS — They perch on a wooden shelf on a wall, overseeing all the activities of the bakery. 

They are similar in size and shape, but each has its own battle scars, evidence of a life well spent mixing up delicious concoctions in the kitchen. 

They are blenders, and quite an assortment of them.

For Ryan LeCompte Malamud, chef and operator at Brothers Bakery, 519 U.S. 281, his collection of older kitchen mixers is so dear to him they deserve their own spot on the wall.

Some might call it a shrine of sorts; Malamud prefers the term “museum.”

“I had someone come in and build the shelf for them (earlier this summer),” Malamud said. 

The restauranteur has a collection of about 10 Sunbeam Mixmasters. His collection started with his grandmother’s mixer and his mother’s green Mixmaster from the 1970s. 

“I want to add more mixers to my collection,” Malamud said. “I want to make (the bakery) into a Sunbeam Mixmaster museum.” 

Malamud has been experimenting in the kitchen from a young age. His first jobs were working in restaurants during high school. 

“I have always been cooking,” Malamud said. “I enjoyed it and knew it was something I wanted to do, and I really like the smells of the baked goods.” 

After graduating from high school, Malamud went to the Culinary Institute of America in New York and obtained his culinary arts degree in 1997. 

Malamud decided that baking was what he really wanted to do, so he went back and got his baking and pastry degree in 2000. He then opened Brothers Bakery in 2002. 

Fresh loaves of bread are baked daily, along with pastries, cookies and cakes for special occasions.

He also serves lunch from 11 a.m. to closing. 

The bakery is open 6:30 a.m- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The eatery also offers Wi-Fi for laptops.

As for his collection of mixers, Malamud hopes the community will help him add to it. 

“I’ve already had some people donate their old mixers, and would like more,” he said. “The long-term goal is to extend the (existing) shelf all the way around the bakery and fill it with mixers.” 

While their days of whipping up cakes, breads and pastries may be over, one thing is for sure: These mixers have retired to a place of honor at Brothers Bakery.