The importance of being bread

Bread is of course a core staple to any diet, after all it’s known as the staff of life. Sharing a family name with a well known bread brand you would think it would have been in my blood already. However living in france I discovered this more than ever. Not having a bread to accompany your meal, that’s for starter, main not to mention with the cheese course is incredibly difficult for the French, I have learned even when the meal is pizza!!! Yet ironically they aren’t huge lovers of sandwiches. Except of course when a picnic is involved in which case 2 baguettes per person is deemed a pre requisite to ensure that all but the picnic basket can be transformed into a sandwich.

What’s more during my time in france I discovered the essential difference between good and bad bread. It’s the quality of the filling that’s the greatest telling of a good loaf, not too soft and easy to break away nor too much of it but just enough and of a firm texture.

Whilst the French never shy away from decorating their food to make sure it’s a delight for the eyes as well as taste buds, bread can be a great example of this.

Bread as art…

….artisan bread snap from a recent wedding I was lucky enough to be invited to.

Try to bring more variety to your daily staples by varying your bun choice: White, brown, granary, malt loaf, soda bread, sourdough, rye, pitta, cheese topped bread, baguettes, poppy seed, rolls, subs, gaps, barm cakes, flatbread, wraps, bloomers…the list is endless

Some of my favorites: http://breadshop.co.uk/home Poppy seed bloomer is a favourite http://gailsbread.co.uk. Also sold through Waitrose Or for the classic baguette http://www.paul-uk.com