Why isn't there a TV show about bread making?

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TinGull on 12 Mar 2007 at 17:32

Hi all,

 

I was curious as to your thoughts on why there isn't a show on Food Network dedicated to bread making? It seems that bread is the thing that freaks the most people out, yet it's the thing that is hardly ever taught on the television shows. I personally have no clue why there isn't more light shone on bread baking. Would love to hear your thoughts :)

 

Chris

I can't even seem to find a class around here for breadbaking. The closest class I can find is in Vermont, which is a 9.5 hour drive from where I live (outside Toronto). It's very frustrating.

The closest thing I've found on TV is the PBS series, Baking with Julia. There are some good video clips on the PBS website.

http://vvi.onstreammedia.com/cgi-bin/visearch?user=pbs-juliachild&template=template.html&query=+ClipCategory%3ABreads+ClipCategory%3ABaked+ClipCategory%3AGoods&category=ClipCategory%3ABreads+ClipCategory%3ABaked+ClipCategory%3AGoods&ingredients=0&chef=0&project=0&viKeyword=

Hi Chris,

I'm with you: I'd love to see a series devoted to techniques, peering into interesting oven, chatting with members of the growing number of bread clubs, and visiting with bakers - amateur and professional -- all over the country and around the world. Maybe Maggie Glezer could host it.

I've really enjoyed the baking segments Julia Child had on her TV series (still available on the PBS archives), but that's been a while and if local activity is any indication, national interest in artisan bread baking at home has only increased since then. 

 Sylvia

 

Maybe we should start pouring emails over to the food network and try to get their attention  :)  I agree, it would be a blast to hear stories of bakers not just in the US, but in Europe as well.  My favorite parts of Joe Ortiz's book are the stories of the bakers and how their lives revolve around the bread they bake. 

 

Maybe I'll start a grassroots campaign.....

Hey Squid those videos were great thanks for the link.  I have been reading Nancy silverton's book so it was great to see some of her information presented in that format it also gave me some confidence in my technique all of what I do is from what I read so to see it live like that really helps me to improve what I do.

JIP, that's how I found Nancy Silverton, through Julia's show. I was so impressed with her, I bought her book.... and Baking with Julia, of course.

I loved the segment with Steve Sullivan too.

Yes, by all means let's have a lobbying campaign. But could we please go for PBS so that those of us who can't afford upgraded cable can play, too?
Also, I seem to recall that King Arthur has DVDs on artisan bread and on pastry.  Better than nothing.
A couple of years ago there was a program on our local PBS station on Saturday morning called "Breaking Bread with Father Dominick". It was very good but he stopped making it. Too bad for us. He also had a couple of books published with some good recipes in them.
Hmmm...is there anyone in particular that people would like to have called upon to do a show?  My friend used to be an apprentice for Joe Ortiz...maybe Peter Reinhart?  I'd love to have something more to do during the day besides my job.  If I get some ideas of people to perhaps corner for a show, I can try to put some stuff into action.  Any other ideas?
Careful what you wish for with Peter Reinhart I have seen a show on my local PBS with a teacher from the same school he teaches at and all I have to say is SNORE and this comes from a daily Food Network watcher.