Le pain Poilâne is the most well known bread in Paris. Ironically, it is not a baguette, but rather a round and rustic sourdough loaf. Even if Poilâne isn’t a family’s local boulangerie, or bakery (which is the case for the majority of people), everyone has had Poilâne. It is served in many bistros and restaurants, most often as the base bread for tartines. I also feel that in some ways Poilâne is very representative of the essence of French boulangeries. It is a family business passed down from generation to generation and operates under the philosophy of tradition and quality. Although the small shop has now grown into a worldwide business (they export to at least 11 different countries), everything, except the kneading, is done by hand.
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June 09 2010 | bakeries & restaurants and paris and recipe and sandwiches and thoughts | 9 Comments »
It’s finally the end of the month. When I think back to the beginning of November this day seemed so far away, but somehow four weeks went by in a flash. I’m actually really surprised at how comfortable I became with blogging everyday. Not saying that I didn’t have slumps or one liners, but I sort of enjoyed the panic that comes with meeting a deadline. It kept me motivated and pushed me to try more daring recipes outside of my comfort zone. I want to thank all you readers, whether this is your first time here or your 30th, but knowing that somebody is reading my site is so rewarding and a great encouragement. Thank you!
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November 30 2009 | bread and recipe and thoughts | 11 Comments »
I’ve been wanting to make croissants again but haven’t had the time With the rolling, folding, and endless waiting, not to mention the fact that the dough needs to be used between 8 and 18 hours, the timing just hasn’t worked. So, I decided to look for a nice alternative in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. This is the perfect book for those who crave homemade bread but don’t have the time.
I’ve made their rustic, peasant loaves a few times, but have never tried any of their pastry recipes. They didn’t have a one for croissants, but they had one for brioche. It’s not exactly in the same category as puff pastry, however, both have a common interest in butter. Good enough for me.
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November 29 2009 | bread and recipe and thoughts | 10 Comments »
I didn’t know what a real oven looked like until about the eighth grade. Well, at least I thought I didn’t. That area under the stove with wire racks and a heavy door was a cabinet. The pots and pans were stored there. It’s actually a pretty nifty idea if you lack major storage space (ie. Manhattan). I found out recently it’s actually pretty common amongst Koreans. Makes sense because Korean cooking rarely requires an oven.
Until the age of 14, I did most of my baking in a toaster oven. It works fine and dandy. You just have some size constraints and possibly a few more batches to bake, but in the end, it all turns out the same. While I’m here, I actually prefer to use the toaster oven because then I don’t have to hassle with moving dozens of pans in and out. It’s also nice when you bake mini pastries because it feels like you’re wasting less energy (and possibly saving a little on your bills!).
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November 03 2009 | bread and fruit and recipe and thoughts | 9 Comments »
No knead bread is really fantastic because it’s easy. There aren’t very many special skills involved. As long as you know how to measure ingredients and mix them together you’re set to go. If there is one secret ingredient here it would be patience. According to the famous bible of no knead baking, you only need five minutes a day to make great bread. It’s true but also a little misguided at the same time. It’s true because it really does only takes a few minutes to work the ingredients but what about all that waiting time? First, there’s the two hour wait for the initial rise, then 40 minutes for the second rise, and then 35 minutes in the oven. Even if you make the dough ahead of time, you have to wait a few hours before breaking of a nice, warm piece of rustic bread. I mean, when you wake up in the morning or come home from a long day do you really want to wait two hours for something to eat?! Well, it was actually worth it. After all, the whole loaf was gone by the end of the day. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not great with the patience skill.
The olive bread was perfect. It had a firm, crunchy crust and a soft, moist interior. The saltiness and texture of the olives really provided another depth to the bread. I’ve made other variations with cheese and honey, but I have to say, so far, this one with olives has been the best.
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August 24 2009 | bread and recipe and thoughts | 9 Comments »
