Carl the Creeper wasn’t always the beloved backbone of our bakery — he started as a weird, bubbly science experiment lurking on the kitchen counter. My husband took one look at the gooey, growing mass and declared it was “creeping” around like it had a mind of its own. For a week, Carl sat there, bubbling away, looking more like a science project gone wrong than the foundation of amazing bread. But with a little patience (and a lot of flour), he transformed into something magical.

Now, Carl is the star of the show, bringing life to every sourdough loaf, bagel, scone, and pizza dough we bake. He’s got character, a bit of attitude, and a whole lot of flavor—proof that even the weirdest kitchen experiments can turn into something truly delicious.