The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Any Belgian bread bakers out there?

Urchina's picture
Urchina

Any Belgian bread bakers out there?

Twenty years ago, I spent a year in northern Belgium as an exchange student. Over the intervening years, I've been able to find or replicate most of the foods I loved there, but I cannot for the life of me find a good whole-wheat daily bread like the one our local baker made. I ate it with Gouda every day for a year and miss it so much. Now I can get the Gouda just fine, but the bread is missing. I suspect that it was not a 100% whole wheat bread, but a "light" whole wheat bread with some white flour, based on the texture of the crumb and the lift it had. 

Is anyone here from Flanders, and do you have a recipe for dagelijkse volkorenbrood that I could have? Double bonus if you're from Essen gemeentenschap! I lived in Wildert, Antwerpen province. 

I'm also craving a recipe for frangipan gebakjes, but that would just be gravy....

Thanks in advance!

Urchina's picture
Urchina

I checked out the link -- some promising recipes. And then I googled more Dutch sites... I may be trying some of these and posting my results for those who are interested. Of course, if I get far enough into it I could go back and visit my host family there, and see if the local bakery would let me hang on for an evening shift.... now THAT would be fun!

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

I know the bread about which you were asking! I was looking for a recipe for it a few years ago. I never found one. Unfortunately, I don't read Dutch or Flemish.

If you found a recipe that replicates that delicious bread, would you please post it?

Thanks!

David

Urchina's picture
Urchina

David, 

 

I haven't gotten around to baking any of these yet, finding the test baking for Stan and Norm to have completely absorbed any excess bread-eating capacity we've had. But it's on the list, and I'll be working on it soon. If I find a good approximation, I'll definitely post it (appropriately translated!). 

steven DB's picture
steven DB

I'm a real "Vlaming" but unfortunately I only got into bread-baking once I moved here to New york. I do miss a good rogge broodje or a volkoren, but my favorite is a West-Vlaams. It looks like a light rye in a loaf pan with rye berries in it.

If you find any recipes iin flemish i'll be more than happy to translate them (i'll even try them too, even though I try to stick to sour dough or sprouted grain breads these days.

Groetjes,

Steven