The Fresh Loaf

News & Information for Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts

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linder's picture

SFBI Artisan Baking I, Day 1

January 21, 2013 - 9:25pm -- linder
Forums: 
General

Today was the first day of Artisan Bread I at SFBI(San Francisco Baking Institute) in South San Francisco. Our instructor is Miyuki.  We went over mixing processes - Short Mix, Improved Mix and Intensive Mix, highlighting differences in the processes and impact they have on hydration, yeast, salt percentages and results in terms of gluten development, fermentation times, crumb structure, elasticity, extensibility, and dough handling. 

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yy's picture

News from founder of SFBI

December 26, 2012 - 12:50pm -- yy
Forums: 
General

Hello all

You may already have received this email from Michel Suas, the founder of SFBI, but just in case you didn't, it's copied below. SFBI has run into a bureaucratic brick wall and may have to shut down. We could help by sending some messages of support. I personally have not taken any classes, but I had plans to do so in the future, and I have found their textbook to be an excellent resource. I hope we can all throw our voices behind them.

 

To All SFBI Family Members,

 

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linder's picture

Just Signed Up for SFBI Artisan I

November 27, 2012 - 3:16pm -- linder
Forums: 
General Discussion and Recipe Exchange

I justed signed up for the 1 week Artisan Baking I class at San Francisco Baking Institute.  I'm excited and anxious about the class.  I've been baking bread for many years, but just for my family, and lately have branched out into sourdough.  Although sourdough breads are not covered in this first course, is there anything I should do before the class to prepare?

Thanks

Linda

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MNBäcker's picture

SBI Linen Couche - wash before first use?

June 19, 2012 - 7:48am -- MNBäcker
Forums: 
Gear

I just bought a few yards of linen couche from SFBI - should I wash it before the first use? I have read conflicting opinions on the topic after a search.

Als, I bought 5 yards - should I cut the pieces down to the sizes (1 yard each) before or after washing (if I need to wash)?

I do know never to wash once I start using the material.

Thanks in advance,

Stephan

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run4bread's picture

Prep for SFBI?

April 15, 2012 - 10:40pm -- run4bread
Forums: 
Artisan Baking

Hi,
I signed up for SFBI Artisan I to get a better feel for dough and handling, and because it gets good reviews here! And because baking for a week sounds like a fun vacation. Since a number of you have gone there, or someplace similar, I would like your advice. What is good prep for going (types of bread, techniques, reading or re-reading)? And is there anything I should do or ask once there? My interest is sourdough breads, not the viennoisserie, although that will be fun and tasty.

Thanks in advance.

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July 10, 2011 - 4:59pm
dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

My miche take for the family

This 2+ kg miche is for an upcoming family gathering. Eighteen of us - most of 3 generations - will be getting together at the Central California beach town where my generation vacationed with our parents in the 1960's and '70's. There are lot's of wonderful memories of those Summers.

The formula for the miche is from the SFBI Artisan II workshop I took last December. I have described the formula and methods here: This miche is a hit! Since then, many TFL members have made this bread and seem to have enjoyed it as much as I. That includes brother Glenn, who has promised to bring along a matching miche.

The only modification of the original formula for this bake was to use half WFM Organic AP flour and half CM Organic Type 85 flour.

 The crust has lots of lovely crackles.

No crumb photos, since I'm taking it intact to the gathering.

I also baked a couple 1 pound loaves of the San Francisco Sourdough from AB&P today. The formula can be found here: Crackly Crust & Shiny Crumb: San Francisco Sourdough from AB&P

I think the "group photo" puts things in better perspective.

David

RikkiMama's picture

SFBI No-knead, Hand-mixed Ciabatta

January 23, 2011 - 1:43pm -- RikkiMama
Forums: 
Artisan Baking

One of the breads that we learned to make in the SFBI Specialty Breads workshop was a no-knead, hand mixed ciabatta.  I've made ciabatta using other formulas but hadn't been quite happy with the flavor and oven spring.  I knew using a biga or poolish was the way to add more depth to the flavor.  And that the high hydration makes it virtually impossible to knead the dough by hand.  So when we made the no-knead hand-mixed ciabatta, I knew I had finally found my Holy Grail of ciabattas.

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January 20, 2011 - 9:32pm
Ryan Sandler's picture
Ryan Sandler

I made a mighty miche!

With all this talk on the forum about miche lately, I've been itching to give it a try.  So when the excellent dmsnyder posted the formula for the miche he made in the SFBI Artisan II workshop, I decided that the time was now and the bread should be here!


I followed the very nicely written formula at the link, using a small amount of whole wheat flour in the Levain and toasted wheat germ in the final build, as I've no good source for high-extraction whole wheat flour.  I made the levain with 25% whole wheat flour, 75% KAF AP (and my starter had been fed the same mix), to get approximately 3.33% whole wheat in the final dough (it actually ends up being a bit more, but I didn't worry about it).


I must say, this is an excellent formula, and an excellent bread.  Incredible oven spring.  Wonderful alliterative potential too: My massive mighty miche makes mastication memorable.


Anyway, pictures:


From the top


 

Another external view

 

Miriam meets miche

 

Not a bad crumb either.

 

We sliced it 7 hours after it came out of the oven.  Lovely flavor and texture, lots of character.  Looking forward to snacking on the remaining three quarters of a loaf  I'd definitely make it again, although unlike dmsnyder, the notion of upgrading to a 2kg loaf sounds intimidating!  If nothing else, there's no way that would fit in my poor little banetons.  I guess there's always the "napkin in a bowl" trick, eh?

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