Slate Sourdough Brings Artisan Bread To Downtown Tulsa

An artisan sourdough bakery opened in the summer in the Tulsa Arts District.

Slate Sourdough was started by Breanna and Lawrence MacAlpine four years ago in their home. Breanna said she learned the art from her husband, a third-generation sourdough baker,

“He has been baking sourdough his whole life,” she continued, saying, “I learned how to bake sourdough when we got married, and it was just part of our normal life, normal rhythms.”

In 2021, neighbors and friends started asking about it. That led the MacAlpines to start a subscription-based bakery, and then a few years later, a pop-up shop through a Downtown Tulsa Partnership program. Just like the yeast in their bread, interest in sourdough baking rose during the pandemic, when people were at home more.

“Sourdough is not new since 2020; it is a very old tradition, but the interest in it and its allure just exploded,” said Breanna.

That has helped contribute to their success. Now, with a physical location, the couple are teaching sourdough bread-making to others.

“Sourdough is like a little living, breathing thing,” said Breanna. “You have to feed it, nurture it, and keep it alive, and I think that connects with a lot of people.”

The MacAlpine's workshops start from scratch to target learners of all experiences.

“There is so much information online that we have found a lot of people, instead of that being helpful, it makes it more daunting,” Breanna added.

To sign up for a workshop, visit Slate Sourdough's website to sign up or to access online resources for baking at home. Slate Sourdough is open at 11 E Reconciliation Way on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.You can also purchase their baked goods at the Downtown Tulsa Midweek Market on Wednesdays during the fall.