Summer doings
July is the hottest month of the year in Central California. Today it was 99 ºF, the first day in 15 with a high temperature below 100 ºF. Tomorrow we expect it to be back above 100. Now, it's hotter in Phoenix (not to mention Death Valley), but still ….
For several years, my wife has talked about spending as much of July as possible in cooler climes. This year we've done pretty well so far with visits to Portland and the Oregon Coast, to San Francisco, where we attended the one game the Giants managed to win against the Dodgers and also the 50th reunion concert of Jim Kweskin's Jug Band with Maria Muldaur at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Next week, we will go over to Carmel for a couple concerts at the Carmel Bach Festival.
While in Portland, I spent some time in Powell's bookstore and browsed through Ken Forkish's James Beard Award-nominated bread and pizza book, Flour Water Salt Yeast. I read enough to be convinced I did need yet another bread book, after all. <sigh> I ordered it when we got home, and I spent much of today reading it. I haven't gotten to the sourdough or pizza sections yet, and already I have a list of formulas I want to try. I haven't made any of them yet, but I did manage to squeeze in a couple loaves of Hamelman's “Pain au Levain with increased Whole Wheat” today.
I hope you all are having a great Summer (or Winter, for those in the Southern Hemisphere)!
David
Comments
Beautiful breads with beautiful grignes.
I heard about Powell's bookstore a few times because it's the largest bookstore. I wish I could go there for once.
What is up with the extreme hot weather! I cannot stand it. I live in Los Angeles, and it could be unbearable at times, especially when I don't have an air conditioner in my room. I stopped baking because the kitchen gets so hot when I turn on the oven. I resort to buying pastries and bread from the local bakery for the time being.
you never failed to deliver beautiful loaves.. superb crust crumb n ear!! everyone has their own signature style.. i could recognized yours from a mile!!
cheers
evon
Looking good, David. Glad to hear you were able to come north and cool off for a bit!
your bread is beautiful as always! Isn't Powell's amazing? I'm so glad that I went there years ago...before my bread baking book buying addiction. Our weather is low 90's, high 80's but blessedly cool at night. Thinking positive about your warm weather, you have the warmth to try the Warm Spot Levain recipe in Forkish's book.
So far, we have enjoyed all the breads from the book. I use my old giant Tupperware bowl for the s and f, seems to need the space around the dough more than others. I'm sure there is a scientific reason for this but I just know I've tried the smaller containers twice and not been successful.
Looking forward to seeing your new bakes. Enjoy the book and the photography-
Barbra
handsome bread even with those big ears :-) Yesterday was the first day we have been below 100 F, cloudy but no rain in Phoenix. Enjoy the music and cold weather whiole you can and
Happy Baking David
For the kind comments on the breads.
Powell's is so huge it's overwhelming. Cookbooks are on the ground floor where I enter. Most often, I never get beyond them. This last trip, I was actually looking for books on medieval and renaissance calligraphy, another of my interests. I found some good stuff.
I don't think the weather here is hotter than in past years, on average. However, with increased irrigation on farms and urban growth with lawns that get watered, humidity has risen. It's still not high compared to most areas, fortunately. We do live an airconditioned life - home, cars, stores, offices.
My younger son - the one I successfully infected with lactobacilli - will be here with his family for a couple days towards the end of the month. We might do some baking. Then, it's up to Sonoma County for a triathalon that my DIL is doing and a bit of Russian River Valley wine tasting. BTW, my SD starter has now jumped to Texas. Joel gave some to his sister-in-law who lives there. No feedback yet from Katie.
David
Hi Dave.
Been a while since you have posted. These loaves are amazing looking. As usual, you inspire with your scoring and shaping expertise.
The Oregon coast is amazing this time of year. I could just imagine sitting on the balcony of a cottage over looking Lincoln City beach, eating a slice of that bread with some jam in the morning. Ahhhh....thanks a bunch for the good looking loaves.
John
Thanks for your kind words.
We didn't have a balcony, but we did have a deck. The view was .... Well, rather than 1000 words ...
Oregon Sunsets are famous for a reason. Gimme a minute. I'll think of it.
David
Is that by chance in Lincoln City? Looks very much like the view we had at The Bay House restaurant there. Haven't been since 2009 but your photos are making that itch come back!
John
Well, John, close to Lincoln City. This is at Neskowin, a bit North. The island on the left of the photos is "Proposal Rock."
Let's not tell anyone else. One of the great features of this piece of the world is that you can be on a perfect sandy beach, all alone for miles. Hmmm ... Of course, the water's too cold. The surfing isn't that great. And there are those "sneaker waves" that kill a few people every year. Terrible place!
David
Oh I know! The crab tastes horrible and is over priced! I hear the seals also charge at you if you take too many photos. Who needs any of that!
;)
John
Your summer bread looks like it's doing spendidly David, beautifil loaves both.
I'm with evon, I like your style and you have a very distinct,and recognizable one. I recall seeing one of your breads on yeastspotting that I hadn't seen on TFL and knew immediately it was yours from the bold bake, clear flour pattern and great ears. Always a pleasure to see your work!
Cheers,
Franko
David
David,
As usual, your breads set the bar very high for the rest of us. Just gorgeous, what else can I say? I'm always inspired by you.
Sjadad
David
Great looking loaves, David.
It was fun to spend time with you and your family in the Bay Area, but we didn't bake anything!!!
Baseball, dining out and music are nice and all, but bread baking has to be on the agenda next time we visit.
Glenn
And it was nice to get to know some of your friends. I did note that, when you talked about getting together with them to play some music, they didn't say anything about which guitars you should bring. It was just, "You bring the bread."
Maybe I'll find a formula or two in Ken Forkish's book it would be fun to bake together. I'm all for it!
David
Love the sunset as well as your bread.
Your loaves are beautiful as always.
Happy Baking!
Annie
David
I think my intro was ca. 1964 or 5, when Maria was still D'Amato. Vinyl of course. "Richland Woman" is an all time favorite. Her voice and phrasings are unique: that's a Good Thing®. Of course Roseanne Barr's voice and phrasing are unique, but in a Not-so-good way. ;-)
Their covers of the Memphis Jug Band's old recordings rank with the best. I envy your chance to see and hear them live.
cheers,
gary
ps: The bread looks good too, but we expect that from you. ~g
Hard to beat. ... (as the lyrics go). We had planned the trip for the ball game. Then Glenn mentioned the Kweskin concert being the next night, and I was on it like a dog on a bone. I'd never seen the band in concert before, but I knew all the tunes. Maria's gestures are as remarkable as her voice, and the gestures don't get captured on vinyl.
David
:-( ⇦ color me deep with greenosity.
g
Beautiful breads David,
Cheers,
Phil
David