Sunday 5 February 2017

The staple diet.



I'm not supposed to eat too much bread, but with our choice of wonderful bakers in the vicinity, it's difficult to deprive oneself.

Bread has been through rough times in the recent past. There was an era when 'ease of baking' was the byword, and unscrupulous manufacturers were selling oven-ready dough to small village bakers everywhere. These small bakers were only too pleased to take advantage, and the quality of bread suffered dreadfully.

I'm pleased to say that over the past 10-15 years there has been a total turn-around, and once again bakers are taking a real pride in their bread.

It used to be that just a handful of bakers within a 10 Km radius were worth visiting; now there are dozens. 

At market yesterday morning, how could we resist a few sourdough baguettes, and a small lump of Duck Rillettes for lunch; as well as our usual dozen double-yolker eggs, of course.

                             

Anyone who has been watching James Martin's French Adventure on TV might have seen the edition from this area last Friday.

Everything he said was TRUE.





36 comments:

  1. Yes, wonderful stuff, sadly the small independent artisan baker is almost extinct in our part of the UK, the superstores hold sway.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure they'll return, there's a world-wide movement towards really good bread again.

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  2. So hard to resist, can't wait to get back.

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    1. This bread was from the nearest baker to the 'place' in V du Pd. Very good.

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  3. The smell of that wonderful French bread must be hard to resist. Those baguettes are magnificent!

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    1. You're right, the aroma is as good as the taste.

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  4. Bread is a cut loaf when we have it.

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  5. Wine and/or chocolate do nothing for me. Fresh crusty bread is my weakness. Those loaves are calling to me, even if they do look like giant chips and therefore make me think of a chip butty which is something I haven't indulged in for decades, but which seems strangely tempting right now.

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    1. This bread with the Duck Rillettes is wonderful. Perfect for lunch.

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  6. I don't know whether I'm supposed to eat bread or not but I do and always have done. I've been fortunate when staying in France generally to have been staying with friends who had sussed out the good bakers in the area. I'm not sure if one can find a good baguette in Britain but on the occasions that I've tried I've not succeeded. I could, oddly, get them at a baker near where I lived in New Zealand (on a lucky day).

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    1. We had some young French bakers in Brighton who started up a small bakery, and their bread was very good; and very expensive.

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  7. I make our own bread, although still buy the occasional baguette and I have also noticed an improvement in them. Even the supermarket baguettes have improved a little bit!

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    1. I wish I could make bread like this. I still find supermarket bread very dull.

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  8. We have here some artisan bakers,i try to avoid them,there is nothing that i like more than good bread.

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    Replies
    1. It's very tempting; Lady Magnon eats a lot more than I do.

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  9. I'm itching to break the crusty end off that baguette........mmmmmm.

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  10. You can't beat fresh crusty bread. Do you ever make your own? X

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    1. I try to occasionally, with differing results.

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  11. Nothing can equal French bread in my opinion. We usually can't wait to buy some and wolf it down with butter and raspberry jam. I've decided that it's something to do with the flour as we've tried lots of French bakeries here, including Vietnamese bakeries, and the bread is never as good.

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  12. I just cannot understand people who give up bread for any reason. So what if it makes you fart? I wouldn't want to give up farting either. It's almost as much fun as eating bread.

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    Replies
    1. Not advised for diabetics, regardless of the Trump.

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  13. What you've pictured would be my husband's ideal breakfast (or lunch, or supper). Alas, he also needs to choose wisely. -Jenn

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  14. Those baguettes do look delicious...and that four-yolked happy face made me smile, too.

    Wondering now why I just had oatmeal for breakfast.

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    1. I eat Oat-rich Muesli for breakfast for most of the week. My days of bacon, eggs, sausages, kidneys, and black pudding are long gone.

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  15. We have thoroughly enjoyed James Martin in France so far, looking forward to the rest of the series.

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    1. He's almost as good as Rick Stein. Travelogue and food; can't be bad!

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  16. Good bread, cheese, and some fresh home grown veggies is all I need to be happy at the table!

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  17. One of my greatest pleasures in life, has been bread and pasta. When I eat too much I get fat (er) when I don't I feel better BUT will never give it up. Now make most of my own bread and I justify that homemade must be better

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    Replies
    1. I would love to be able to say that my homemade bread was better, but I'd be lying. I persevere.

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  18. A favorite of mine. Rip off some lovely bread and some good cheese pure bliss !

    cheers, parsnip

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