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51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring book for bakers, 20 Sep 2006
This review is from: The Handmade Loaf (Hardcover)
This is really one for serious amateur bakers (in the literal sense of one who loves baking). The essence of the book is sourdough baking - making bread with a wild yeast leaven instead of commercial yeast. Baking this way takes time and a little dedication (though not nearly so difficult as some food-writers would have you believe), but it repays the effort.
As well as the recipes, the book contains accounts of bakers and baking traditions across Europe, as well as photos of actual bread (it looks like it was made by a human being)and real bakers instead of the usual cosmetically perfect food photography. For Dan Lepard making and eating bread is evidently a very personal and human thing. What I'm trying to say is the book has personality.
Above all, the recipes and procedures work, and Dan Lepard makes it simple, like all the best teachers. It transformed my baking.
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41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The book that helped me bake great bread, 28 Nov 2006
This review is from: The Handmade Loaf (Hardcover)
I'd only baked bread a few times, and nothing really tasted that good. A poster on a website said to get The Handmade Loaf and now I can say, after working my way through some challenging recipes, that my bread is really very good. I work, have two small boys, and time isn't something I have much of at all, but now I've got the baking slotted in I just leave the dough in the refrigerator and bake when I get home. I make bread just using my jar of leaven, it rises slowly and ends up with a crisp thick crust and a gentle sourness to the crumb. The book has transformed my baking but it's not quick and easy. It's only about baking really good bread, and that's all I do now, every time I bake. An extraordinary book, beautiful and thoughtful.
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77 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Raising the bar, 27 Dec 2004
This review is from: The Handmade Loaf (Hardcover)
First off, the presentation is excellent. The book's author is a keen (ex-professional) photographer and his work definately does justice to his baking. Little chapters from artisan bakers from around the world can be found inbetween the recipes, making this a good read, as well as an informtive resource. The book has some fine, wholesome recipes with a strong leaning toward hearty rustic breads. Each recipe is presented in detail with the author often offering explanation far beyond the basics. I would hesitate in purchacing this book if looking for a quick bread machine fix however. The recipies are very versatile and every attempt is made to show the reader how each can be adapted but if you're looking for a simple list of ingredients and a recipe that reads "put everything into your bread machine and wait" then there are more straightforward (though not more appetizing) bread-books available. I would suggest that to any keen home baker wanting to push their skills up a notch or anyone who wants to know the difference between Canadian and British wheat this is an invaluable resource. It's also a great coffee table book and a fantastic culinary roadtrip. In short, buy it... Just wait for a couple of seconds before committing to a purachace if you're looking for convenience.
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