October 28, 2006 - 3:00am
Ask the name of a book
Maybe few days ago, I saw a post in this forum (but not under "Book") mentioning a book that will be available soon. The book is about the the traditional and new ways of bread baking in France. I think the author's last name starts with "K". I tried to search for it in the forum but couldn't find that post. Does anyone know the book I'm talking about? What's the title of that book?
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Yeah, the book is Good Bread is Back, by Steven Kaplan. I think it comes out in February. I just finished reading it. It isn't a cookbook and I really wouldn't recommend it for the amateur baker, but if you are a Francophile or seriously interested in the baking industry it is without peer. And, yes, while he is discussing the contemporary state of French baking he does talk a bit about the techniques various bakers use.
Kaplan was in New York on a pre-book release tour, I assume. A couple of articles about it here and here.
I'm intending to write a longer review of it in the next few weeks.
The information is really helpful. I'm interested in the historical part of bread baking too. I will look forward to your review.
By the way, it isn't available yet at Amazon.
This book won't be released until February (update Jan 10 2007: it looks like it has been released sooner).
For earlier bread history, check out 6000 Years of Bread. I loved it.
Hi all,
Somewhere on this site, someone (maybe Floyd?) mentioned a bread book in which the first half was filled with the author's perspectives and lots of interesting stories. Please let me know what book this might be. (I really love the history and culture that is realized in the bread of any nation or group of people.) Thanks.
Sylviambt
In search of the perfect crust & crumb
A lot of breadbaking books fit that description! But I guess you are thinking of Bread Alone
by Leader and Blahnik
Reinhart's books also tend to include a fair amount of philosophy and travelogue.
sPh
If you like books with history/culture of bread, you'd probably like the works of Alford and Duguid. Here's one:
Flatbreads & Flavors
by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid
They are a couple which travels the world and write about cooking (and baking). For example, the flatbreads book is organized regionally, and includes stories, recipes for breads, AND recipes for foods that go with the flatbreads.
Definitely worth checking out from the library at the very least! I just reserved the Six thousand years of bread book from our local branch :)