Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be engaged in lightly.
M.F.K. Fisher
Available for licensing on Getty Images
You can read about Backhouse, the wonderful restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where this image was taken, here — and about how my talented brother-in-law made the tables.
Sherrygaley.com 
Cheryl, this particular sourdough loaf was the best I’ve ever tasted.
My goodness, this is such an amazing poem by Rumi — and so perfect for this image. Thank you so much for sharing it. I just love that last line: “You have to feel the oven fire yourself.” I have never read a Rumi poem that does not give me a chill of recognition…
Hi Sherry — this is a long comment – but I couldn’t resist. Right next to your e-mail was this poem by Rumi:
Sour, Doughy, Raw, and Numb
If we are not together in the heart,
what’s the point?
When body and soul are not dancing,
there is no pleasure in colorful clothing.
Why having cooking pans
if there is no food in the house?
In this world full of fresh bread,
amber, and musk, what are they
to someone with no sense of smell?
If you stay away from fire,
you will remain sour,
doughy, raw, and numb.
You may have lovely just-baked loaves
around you, but those friends cannot help.
You have to feel the oven fire yourself.
– Jelalludin Rumi
(Coleman Barks translation)
Love that quote. Nothing like hot bread straight from the oven.