John the Bakerman:  Placencia, Belize
Video: Watch the master work!  Download the video while you read.

Can you make world famous cinnamon rolls? John the Bakerman can!

Although John's sign says he is open from 7 am- 7pm the hour you must be there is between 3:30 and 4:30. This is when all of the buns, loaves, and savory cinnamon rolls come, piping hot, out of the ovens.

He seems to open his doors a bit after 7 in the morning as I was prowling about for a cinnamon roll and had to make a few passes before the doors opened. After I found out that his morning supply came from the day before and that today's bread would be out in the afternoon I sadly realized I would miss it because I had to catch a boat at ten that morning. I ended up missing the boat and so came back to Jon the Bakerman's. Throughout the afternoon we chatted, I shot photos, and in the end even got to sample some cinnamon rolls, but I am getting ahead of myself. Here is a bit of our conversation.

PeaceBike:  John, how did you first get started with this baking?
John the Bakerman:  About 15 years ago I was apprenticing in a bakery. My job was to move and grease the pans. That is where everybody starts out in a bakershop. Then after a couple of weeks when the boss wasn't looking I started to work with the bread.

PeaceBike:  Then what happened?
John the Bakerman:  My heart started pounding and I started getting excited and I knew that I wanted to learn all that you could learn about baking. 

PeaceBike:  You have sure learned a lot? It seems like everyone knows about your bakery shop?
John the Bakerman:  Yes. I have learned from many other fine bakers. Some bakers come from other countries and ask me how I make certain goods like my cinnamon rolls. I don´t do any advertising but everyone around here thinks I am famous. I guess my baked goods do my advertising for me!

PeaceBike:  Well, Jon the Bakerman it has been a pleasure learning from you and I look forward to biting into one of those cinnamon rolls myself. I will pass on the good word about Jon the Bakerman to Friends of PeaceBike as well.
John the Bakerman:  Thanks man, it has been a pleasure. You are doing good work too!

You can send John the Bakerman a letter at:

John the Bakerman
Placencia
Belize, C.A.


Interview done May 18, 2000.
PeaceBike. All rights reserved.

John the Bakerman... ...and his bread - the only advertising he needs.	John`s hands are too fast for my camera as he adds cheese and raisens to the cinnamon roll dough.  Yummy!
John and his wife, working as a team.	The bread is fresh and ready to be eaten.  It smelled so good!