The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Pain au levain - from Timisoara to Nevers

codruta's picture
codruta

Pain au levain - from Timisoara to Nevers

I made this Pain au Levain, from Hamelman's book, as a gift for my sister who lives in France. My mom went to see her, and she called me next day to tell me that the bread was fantastic, and the kids loved it.

I respected the formula, but I increased the hydration from 65% to 67%. I baked it the same day that the dough was made, as hamelman suggests. Next day my mother flew to my sister, and that evening they had my bread at the dinner table. They told stories, shared memories and probably laughed and had a good time. I miss them.

I only cut the loaf to take photos, I smelled it but I didn't taste it...

Complete formula and method can be found on my romanian blog Apa.Faina.Sare. (Water.Flour.Salt.), link here.

codruta

Comments

nzsourdoughman's picture
nzsourdoughman

If i can get to making sourdough like this i will have made it... Looks great, nice photos. Haha you have me all excited after my first failed attempts!!

Do you use a rye starter?

Do you use bannetones to prove? If so what shape/ size?

So excited to make another loaf... i'm off

lumos's picture
lumos

Just. One. Word....

......BEAUTIFUL!!! Period.

 

BW

lumos

hansjoakim's picture
hansjoakim

Hi codruta,

That's a beautiful loaf!

Do you live in Timisoara, by the way? I spent four lovely days there during my summer vacation two years ago. I remember a beautiful, charming city. Are there any decent bakeries around there, codruta?

codruta's picture
codruta

Hansjoakim, I live indeed in Timisoara. I'm glad hat you had a good time here and that you liked the city. I stopped buying bread 2 and half years ago, when I started baking bread at home. I was very dissapointed by the quality of products made by bakeries. Since then, maybe things changed, but me and my boyfriend, we are so pleased with the bread I'm making, we never thought of trying commercial bread again. (There is thou one bakery in the city that is better than others, because it doesn't use additives, and ameliorators (at least that's what they say), but sourdough is something I've never seen or heard about here.) I dream in secret that one day I'll have my own bakery, with good quality all sorts of sourdough breads. One that peoples stop by from work to say hello and buy a fresh loaf for dinner, or grab a sandwich and coffee in the morning. 

codruta

lumos's picture
lumos

Let me know when you're opening a branch in UK. ;)

ananda's picture
ananda

Hi codruta,

I hope that your dream will one day be realised

Lovely bread, just as you always seem to exhibit

All good wishes

Andy