Real Cheesy

I expect you all got your Real Bread email the other day. Last month I suggested that maybe the sensible approach to the membership problem would be to ask everyone on their email list why they don’t join. Then maybe they could create an organisation that bakers do want to sign up to. And I […]

Voodoo Chile

“2 teaspoons active dried yeast ¼ cup warm water 4 cups plus 1 tablespoon bread flour ¾ cup plus ½ cup polenta 1 cup finely ground yellow cornmeal 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt 1 can (15 ounces) yellow corn kernels with liquid 1 egg ½ cup buttermilk ¼ cup dark unsulfured molasses 1 yellow onion, coarsely […]

Pizza #34

During my birthday romp around Cardiff and Bath a couple of weekends ago I studied the proliferation of celebrity bread books with a sinking heart and noticed that the wonderful Kitchens shop was awash with bannetons, evens lames. At the equally wonderful Toppings book shop in Bath I bought Guiseppe Mascoli & Bridget Hugo’s Artisan […]

That Dough Again

Nothing to complain about this week I’m afraid. Four books sold to Iceland, West Sussex, Texas and Ipswich, another awaiting confirmation from someone on an airbase somewhere in Turkey. Picked up a bakery consultancy gig. This meant my pizza dough stayed in the fridge for a third day. Knocked it back: Gave it a couple […]

Come and get me, Copper!!

You know me, never one to moan (inevitably followed by) but – I’m not happy. I might not have done much but what I have done I’ve done without anyone’s help (apart from Sue of course). Unlike The Real Bread Campagne I don’t feel I’m entitled to public money – which is just as well […]

Birthday

After Valentines: the Birthday! We wandered off to Cardiff for a largely family gathering, onto Bath, stayed a night longer than intended, as you do. Came home and what had our neighbour Steffi left in the fridge? – Only half left this morning.

Valentines

Gert is doing curry for his customers as a Valentines Day meal so he wanted naan. Knocking out 30 naan in the course of a baking day is a bit of a feat – it’s so labour intensive and takes up all your kitchen space. Not a good way to make a profit. But, this […]

It’s Not My Fault

Marcus sent me a tee-shirt for my birthday. Paul Hollywood is quaking in his boots.

Le Pain Quotidien #498

Here at Bethesdabakers every now and then we have to take time off from deep philosophical thinking on the nature of bread and politics to do things like write books, run courses, help people set up bakeries, encourage other people to make their own bread, etc., etc. – you’d really think someone would set up […]

Real Bread etc.

I’ve been thinking – must be the long winter nights or something. I have been known to have a pop at the Real Bread Campaign – they are a fairly easy target after all – so let’s have a go at being constructive. They got big bucks funding for a time-limited period and you could […]