Just back from a few days in Paris. North Wales would have been proud of the rainfall there last weekend.
Interesting question. We all (well I certainly did) grew up in awe of the great French boulangers. I can remember my little heart thumping the first time I walked up the rue du Cherche Midi to find Poilane’s unassuming shop – I still have my Poilane bread knife from that time. But over the years you notice the Paris cafes advertising sandwiches on Pain Poilane, Monoprix selling sliced Poilane, Pain Poilane on sale in Nice hundreds of miles from Paris and you start to wonder if the whole thing isn’t just a tiny bit out of proportion.
Are the Poilanes, the Eric Kaysers, Dominique Sabrions of this world significantly greater bakers that the rest of them (or us self-taught Brits for that matter) or just better and more ambitious businessmen with their chic Parisien coffee shops and branches in New York & Tokyo?
This trip we seemed to be following Jean-Luc Poujauron around – not all that surprising because he no longer sells to the public and concentrates on restaurant supply. The first night at Cerisaie we sniffed and chewed and tasted the crusty, off-white, flecked bread that arrived at the table. It was pretty good but all the flavour seemed to be in the crust and the crumb was surprisingly bland so we had already formed an opinion before we asked and were told that the baker was Poujauron. Next day at l’Ami Jean the flavours seemed more balanced between crust and crumb, and by the time we came to eat at le Reveil de Xeme the bread was easily recognisable. Very good but I wouldn’t be scared of putting my bread up against it.
This week we came home and did 5 Seed with Spelt for the first time in ages. Lots of happy customers.
The PArtisan Baker 
Interesting Stuff
Invite Monsieur ‘Poilane’ over to Trefriw and go head to head!
http://www.poilane.com is worth a quick look
Given that Lionel Poilane died ten years ago, that would be a very interesting encounter – even in Trefriw.
Anyway that’s not the point. I’m not stupid enough to think I’m anywhere near these people as a baker. Apart from anything else look at their vision in turning around French baking and the scale of their production.
But, (1) are they over-rated compared with other (French) bakers, and (2) is the gap between what they can produce and what a good amateur produce that great?
Five seed with spelt was one of my favourites from your book. Will email you about your latest book.
Thanks you Ray. I’ve given the recipe away to a few bakers and they all say it has become their sourdough best seller.
People is bread – Jeremy, you’re a poet