Seigle d’Auvergne

Two Christmases ago we were staying in Bath which is Sue’s home town and it was even colder than it is here now. I found a copy of Dan Leader’s Local Breads and bought it because I can’t pass by bread books. It’s written for beginners but I thought the methods were hopelessly overcomplicated but […]

Moan, moan, pizza

Been here 11 days now. I suppose we have been lucky. Two days before we arrived the whole of France was battered by a hurricane with 50 people dead and given that this little gaff is twenty five feet from the sea that’s a little worrying. The worst damage was only just up the coast […]

Dalek Bread

“Exterminate!. exterminate!“

French Onion Soup

Never thought I would make French Onion Soup in France. The sun is shining here but it’s unbelievably cold. We made chicken stock earlier in the week, had some onions and a bottle of white wine. What more could you want? – a little grated emmental or gruyiere and some croutons, that’s what. This is […]

First Bread

Had a shed load of Pain Poilâne in Paris on the way down. As usual had mixed feelings about how good it is (compared to what you can make yourself) and it’s dominance of the world of French quality bread. Seems crazy you can buy it (sliced) in Nice, or Arcachon for that matter, when […]

Arcachon – Day One

Don’t worry, you’re not going to get a blow by blow account of our sojourn in Arcachon but the last couple of days have been nothing short of miraculous. The travel here has been so smooth that the only thing we can complain about was the electronic display on the Virgin Train from Chester to […]

St Valentine’s Day – at last

They’ve been trying to kill me, these customers of mine. I did two St Valentine’s Day specials this week – Big G’s Cherry Tomato Focaccia: because they look so pretty, and yet another version of my Pain des Pommes: which this time featured fresh apple and dried apple rings soaked in Calvados and Cider. Ended […]

What a Pillock

As the Robber Baker of Ludlow enjoyed pointing out, I’m not a proper commercial baker. And my attempts to look professional are laughable. Ordered a set of whites last week with embroidery: Check the spelling ….

2K Oat & Honey

The first weekend we go away in months one of our customers invites us to her 50th birthday party at the Bethesdabakin’ Memorial Hall (formerly known as Bethesda Rugby Club). Typical. As she’s got a sweet tooth we had to make her a present of her favourite, Oat & Honey, and as it was a […]

Slash

Zeb’s theory is that the bold central grigne is more likely to be successful in doughs with a linseed soaker. These are Zeb’s beautiful Rye & Linseed. But it also works in Oat & Honey: (that was deliberately slashed more to the side – honest) and in Thanksgiving Bread: – which is heavy with fruit […]