In search of the perfect loaf

306 pages

English language

Published Dec. 29, 2014

ISBN:: 978-0-670-02561-9
OCLC Number:: 870919618

(1 review)

" An irresistible account of bread, bread baking, and one home baker's journey to master his craft In 2009, journalist Samuel Fromartz was offered the assignment of a lifetime: to travel to France to work in a boulangerie. So began his quest to hone not just his homemade baguette-which later beat out professional bakeries to win the "Best Baguette of D.C."-but his knowledge of bread, from seed to table. For the next four years, Fromartz traveled across the United States and Europe, perfecting his sourdough in California, his whole grain rye in Berlin, and his country wheat in the South of France. Along the way, he met historians, millers, farmers, wheat geneticists, sourdough biochemists, and everyone in between, learning about the history of breadmaking, the science of fermentation, and more. The result is an informative yet personal account of bread and breadbaking, complete with detailed recipes, tips, and beautiful photographs. …

" An irresistible account of bread, bread baking, and one home baker's journey to master his craft In 2009, journalist Samuel Fromartz was offered the assignment of a lifetime: to travel to France to work in a boulangerie. So began his quest to hone not just his homemade baguette-which later beat out professional bakeries to win the "Best Baguette of D.C."-but his knowledge of bread, from seed to table. For the next four years, Fromartz traveled across the United States and Europe, perfecting his sourdough in California, his whole grain rye in Berlin, and his country wheat in the South of France. Along the way, he met historians, millers, farmers, wheat geneticists, sourdough biochemists, and everyone in between, learning about the history of breadmaking, the science of fermentation, and more. The result is an informative yet personal account of bread and breadbaking, complete with detailed recipes, tips, and beautiful photographs. Entertaining and inspiring, this book will be a touchstone for a new generation of bakers and a must-read for anyone who wants to take a deeper look at this deceptively ordinary, exceptionally delicious staple: handmade bread"--

1 edition

Thom reviewed In search of the perfect loaf by Samuel Fromartz

Review of 'In search of the perfect loaf' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This is just as much a travel log (or Odyssey) and exploration of wheat as it is about bread. Each portion is interesting, and each delves a little too deep at times. Chapters are fairly focused on separate topics, not unlike articles.

It is a fairly personal journey as well, and a lot what the author learned is that the best bread is baked on a personal scale - something he finds is true about wheat growth and flour production also. There are a few recipes, and I've tried one, but I think the technique comes more from the chapter than the simple instructions given.

The most fascinating portion for me was the hint that Borlaug's wheat variety doesn't do well in warm conditions. Leon Hesser's [b:The Man Who Fed the World: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and His Battle to End World Hunger|189531|The Man Who Fed the World …

This is just as much a travel log (or Odyssey) and exploration of wheat as it is about bread. Each portion is interesting, and each delves a little too deep at times. Chapters are fairly focused on separate topics, not unlike articles.

It is a fairly personal journey as well, and a lot what the author learned is that the best bread is baked on a personal scale - something he finds is true about wheat growth and flour production also. There are a few recipes, and I've tried one, but I think the technique comes more from the chapter than the simple instructions given.

The most fascinating portion for me was the hint that Borlaug's wheat variety doesn't do well in warm conditions. Leon Hesser's [b:The Man Who Fed the World: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and His Battle to End World Hunger|189531|The Man Who Fed the World Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and His Battle to End World Hunger|Leon Hesser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387731737l/189531.SY75.jpg|183229] didn't go into detail, and now I want to read more about this topic. Fromartz also talks about monocultures and Celiac in the same section, and I am sure there is more recent scholarship in this area also.

Subjects

Bread