The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Ciabatta ala Alfanso

Benito's picture
Benito

Ciabatta ala Alfanso

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted much of anything lately, we’ve been in Florida on vacation so no baking for me.  However, we did get a chance to meet up with Mr and Mrs Alfanso while down here and guess what, they were kind enough to bake some treats for us.  Alan baked a 79% hydration ciabatta made with biga and Mrs. Alfanso baked delicious chocolate meringue cookies with chocolate chips and orange zest.  Both were outstanding.

 

Wow what a treat to get to eat one of Alan’s ciabatta.  It was so good my partner and I polished off all but two small slices of it with dinner tonight.  What wonderful clean wheat flavour, beautiful thin crispy crust and that beautiful glossy open crumb.  It was wonderful to meet in person with someone from whom I have learned a lot from on TFL.  Thanks again for the bread and cookies and the great afternoon of conversation.  

Benny

justkeepswimming's picture
justkeepswimming

What a treat! So glad you all got the chance to connect, and enjoy some special bread while there. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

Mary

Benito's picture
Benito

Yes it was a big treat Mary, meeting a fellow TFL’er and getting to try his Ciabatta.  I’ll look forward to our next vacation down here.

Benny

 

gavinc's picture
gavinc

Looks great. Envious :)

Cheers,

Gavin.

Benito's picture
Benito

Thank you Gavin, Alan’s ciabatta tastes even better than it looks in my poor photos.  I don’t even have a bread knife down here in our apartment so mangled cutting it.

Benny

alfanso's picture
alfanso

and another check mark of hooking up occasionally with other TFL folk.  It was a delightful and a way too short two hour chat cut off by our need to make an early evening dinner commitment.  But Benny will be back in town soon enough and the personal friendship will continue.

Not the first time someone has come my way, as Abe and I have made the scene locally three times so far and counting, although more often I've been on another's home turf.  I'll take bragging rights (rites?) here to say the highlight so far was meeting Anis Bouabsa at his bakery in Paris a few years ago, although every interaction with a fellow baker is a special moment.

Existing in a virtual community like TFL, we are somewhat unknown beyond what we allow others to learn of us via the website.  It is a fun and not all that often connection to actually meet other contributors.  And I think the best part of these meet-ups is that very little time is spent talking about baking, as there is a world of other topics and interests in our lives to chat about.

And hopefully TBC - to be continued.

Benito's picture
Benito

It was great that you and the Mrs were able to carve out some time from your busy schedule to meet with us Alan.  Thanks again for the awesome ciabatta.  I hope we can bake together this winter when we’re back, that would be a treat.

Benny

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

Wow sounds and looks awesome! So nice that you managed to meet up, really envious. And that's a beautiful ciabatta!

Benito's picture
Benito

Yes it was a beautiful ciabatta Ilya, such a treat to have Alan’s fresh bread while down here on vacation.

Benny

HeiHei29er's picture
HeiHei29er

Very cool that you both were able to make schedules work and meet up.  It’s always nice to meet in real life with folks that we get to know on-line.  Even better that you got to sample some awesome ciabatta!

Enjoy the rest of your trip Benny.  Travel safe!

Benito's picture
Benito

Thank you Troy.  it really was a lot of fun to meet both Alan and his wife for coffee while in Florida. We only have a couple more days here before we return to Toronto so we'll try to make the most of them. 

Isand66's picture
Isand66

That’s so cool you two had a chance to meet and you got to sample some of Alan’s fantastic ciabatta.  Several years ago we had a local TFL get together where we all shared our bread and starters.  It was so much fun and I hope to do it again one day.

Benito's picture
Benito

Yes it was super cool Ian.  Prior to the pandemic a few of us in Toronto and nearby had talked about getting together, but we know how that all ended up with the pandemic getting in the way.  I hope that some Toronto bakers might have a meetup at some point in the coming year.

mwilson's picture
mwilson

you guys could meet up.

Always a great thing when we can meet IRL (in real life - The Net acronym reference there...).

I know having met a couple of TFL'ers while in California.

That Ciabatta seriously does look bloody god damn great by the way! 👌

Benito's picture
Benito

Alan’s ciabatta really was wonderful, I’d be happy to bake that any day.  Great that you’ve been able to meet up with other bakers in California in the past as well Michael.

 

slohcooker's picture
slohcooker

So great to connect in real life!

Benito's picture
Benito

So very true, I hope that when the pandemic is “over” we can do these types of things more often.

Benny