Baker brings international flair

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
“I was born and raised in Germany,” said Reinhold Tuerk, the new bakery and deli manager at Decker’s Market. Since starting at the position in late spring of this year, Tuerk has made a great addition to the bakery team at the store. 
“He offers unique varieties,” said Clint Mullen, store director. When Tuerk moved to Newcastle, he sought out a job at the market and was eagerly accepted, Mullen said. 
“He has lots of great experience,” Mullen said, noting the “quality” that Tuerk brings to the bakery, as well as a lot of interesting techniques. 
Tuerk has been a baker for several years, and although his family were butchers, Tuerk said that his interest in baking peaked at a young age. At about 8 years old, he began helping out in bakeries – stocking shelves, washing dishes and operating small machines. Sometimes, Tuerk said, he even skipped school because he was so excited to get to the bakery. 
Tuerk smiled.
“I just couldn’t wait,” he said. 
In Germany, becoming a master baker is a prerequisite to owning a bakery and is a pretty big deal. Tuerk attended a three-year baking school in Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to earn the title of master baker, about 35 years ago. After graduating, bakers then go on to get lots of hands-on experience at bakeries. 
Tuerk worked in Germany for a while, in places such as the “Master Bakery” in Neufra,  a municipality in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg.. Tuerk moved to the United States in 1991 and has worked at several different places through the years. 
He worked at Joe’s A-1 bakery in California and a catering company in San Diego. While in San Diego, he also floated and helped out at various stores when they needed a hand. He also worked at Vons and Safeway in California and Arizona, which is where he met his wife, Shiela. 
Tuerk has traveled throughout Europe, to Italy, Switzerland, Austria and other countries, and those cultures have impacted his baking style, he said.
So, what brought Tuerk to Newcastle? He and his wife moved to Newcastle from Arizona. Shiela is originally from Alaska, and her sister lives in Upton. 
“I really love it here,” Tuerk said.
Tuerk said that he enjoys working at Decker’s. He has already expanded the bakery menu, and he’s excited to continue developing more bakery items to offer. 
“I take pride in doing what I’m doing,” Tuerk said. 
So far, his baked goods include cheese rolls, filled Danish, Kaiser rolls, onion buns and cinnamon sticky buns.
Tuerk chuckled. 
“I just love them all,” he said. 
The baker is also willing to take requests for bakery items, he said, and if someone wants it, he’ll make it happen.