I just want to bake bread

It sounds simple, but it is much more than that. Bread doesn't leave anything to chance. Over mixed, it's shit, under baked, its shit. You use some shortening in your croissants instead of 100% plugra, Its SHIT. I love Bread. It lives. You are 100% in charge of its life cycle.

I have worked side by side with chefs whom I believe to be some of the foremost bread bakers in the world. They do not compromise. Their ingredients are top notch and their schedule is dictated by the bread. They have adobe style ovens in their backyards. It is easy to see they love their craft.

With strong flavors like lemon, raspberry, chocolate, and vanilla pastry chefs can hide things like poor quality flour or butter. Bread creates its flavors with natural organic acids and gasses. you cannot hide poor quality ingredients when baking bread. The loaf can tell the story of its life right there before your eyes.

Thank you bread. Thank you for being so ancient and fresh, so crispy and creamy, alive and dead. You are the evolution of man, the wonder bread and the french baguette. You have been and will be until the wheat lies dead in the fields.




OK. Anyway I just wanted to tell you that with fuels pricesgoing crazy the price of flour has gone up by 60%+. The Bakery I frequent is now buying from Canada. I'm fucking pissed that people wont let go of their old ways and realize we can't do it with oil anymore!

BCC

Top Chef Episode 5:

Lately I have been unimpressed with the cooking, this week was better than last

The Four Elements

Earth
Beef carpaccio.... simple. salt your food. Tom said it weeks ago!!!


Water
Clean your damn fish, or have your monger do it.
I like parsnip and vanilla. Use lobster, make a parsnip and vanilla soup, and a crispy polenta sockle to elevate your lobster.

Air
Duck breast...... Middle of the road this week. I don't have much to say

Fire
Nice win ! Some relative underdog's get influenced by the ingredients around them. Sounds simple. Chili salad was good, shrimp was cooked well, Pork fat rules. Period.

3 things!!!!

Scales -Dont taste good.

Mini drinks- Only desserts like Ming said. Wine compliments a dish, not a shooter.

Zoi- You go cook organic girl. I Feel you. She has heart.

It was getting hot in the Glad room during Chef's table

Soup would have been a good choice, squash equals earth, and the Chanterelles could have come back with the same herbs. Antonia should have sat back and enjoyed the ride for one day.