February 20, 2014 - 3:46pm
Hello From So. Ca.
Just recently found out about The Fresh Loaf. I bake bread just about every week, typically baguettes, or a rye boule, or pretzel buns for burgers/sandwiches. I also love to make pizza and have a wood fire oven in the backyard. I've only had it since last October and I'm still getting the hang of it but but every time I fire it up there is improvement. I'm also an avid home brewer. Yeast chemistry is fascinating to me.
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Pretzel buns sound interesting. I've been meaning to make some of those but I haven't got around to it yet. Can you post a link to the recipe you use? I'd like to hear more about your wood fired oven. I have lived in Sacramento the past 12 years, but was born in Los Angeles and have lived in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Jose.
I am new also, it's wonderful to know the site is always churning up new talent. :) from central Canada
Here is the link to the pretzel buns. I noticed it in a King Arthur catalog and thought they looked good and it turns out they are. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pretzel-sandwich-buns-recipe
I have a Forno Bravo Strada WFO. It's the smallest one they make and I chose it because I was thinking I could take it with me if I moved and I was able to pick it up at the factory so I saved a lot on shipping. I read a book on WFO construction and looked into the ovens you build from Forno Bravo and Wildwood Ovens but I felt like I would have wanted a co-builder on a project like that (I'm not the handiest guy in the world) and I didn't have anyone I could ask to do that so that was a main factor in deciding to buy a pre-made. http://www.fornobravo.com/residential_pizza_oven/strada.html
I wanted to make pizza buns but didn't know of a good recipe with recommendations. I've made bagels and Alton Brown soft pretzels before (really good, recipe on FoodNetwork.com site), so this looks somewhat similar. Thanks.
That's a nice looking oven. It's amazing that it's portable. I've been on the Forno Bravo site before to read Peter Reinhart's Pizza Blog, but never browsed through their products. I will have to look closer at them.
Here's a link to Peter Reinhart's Pizza Quest blog on their website, in case you haven't seen it. Some good recipes there from his books:
http://www.fornobravo.com/pizzaquest/
I use it and like it a lot. If I had it to do over again I might order a larger oven but being able to pick it up at the factory (it just barely fit in my Ford Escape) saved me quite a bit in shipping and like you mentioned, it can be portable. No complaints about the oven construction or functionality, I just wish I had a little more space to work with.
This weekend I'll be baking bread, roasting a brisket, and hosting a pizza party so I'll try to remember to take some photos.
I had the wfo going a lot this weekend but kept forgetting to take photos. I did get a few with my phone camera, not the most photogenic moments but things were a bit hectic. I keep meaning to set up a photo area with my good camera for a time when it's a little more laid back but I haven't gotten to it yet. Probably the crowning achievement of the weekend was a brisket I smoked overnight. It came out near-perfect and people talked about that more than anything else. On the negative side I totally incinerated a dessert, once again learning the lesson that patience is required when waiting for the oven to cool.
How's it going with your oven Robert?
Great looking oven and bread!!