10 years ago

The story behind our artisan breads

Bea James, our senior manager of organic, natural, health and wellness, explains what makes our artisan breads so special.

The light crackle of a fresh baguette. The aroma of challah that takes you back to your grandmother’s kitchen. That warm, cozy feeling of cutting into a warm loaf of bread fresh out of the oven. Artisan breads have a wonderful way of delighting every one of our senses.

In our quest to develop what we believe is among the best in artisan breads, we partnered with a local artisan bread baker to create nearly two dozen breads featuring authentic, natural ingredients that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

One of my personal favorites is our Golden Flax Semolina. It’s incredibly tender on the inside with a slightly nutty sweetness from the golden flax seeds and honey. Another favorite is our Streusel Bread, which originated from my grandmother’s (Bubbie’s) challah recipe. This artisan bread is made with cinnamon and honey and is covered with a buttery streusel topping.

While nearly anyone can bake a loaf of bread, the art of making a loaf of bread is something that requires tradition. It’s an art passed down, by hand, through generations of previous artisan bakers. Such is the case with the remarkable local artisan bread baker we partnered with to create our new artisan breads.

Each of our breads begins with the simplest of ingredients: Flour, water, salt, and a sourdough ferment or yeast. It’s then critical to provide tender loving care to each ingredient throughout the process. When you develop the sourdough ferment, for example, it must be fed ingredients on a daily basis while always being kept at the proper temperature. Not a single feeding can be missed or the ferment, which is critical to the bread rising, loses its active ability. By carefully controlling the fermentation to exacting standards, it produces amazing artisan breads with flavors ranging from a light, delicate taste to a strong, rustic tang.

Yeasted breads have a lot to offer, too. We have several traditional yeasted breads that are perfect for sandwiches, as yeast does not create holes like sourdough ferment does. The flavors of yeasted breads also bring simplicity, as wholesome grains are the primary flavor contributor. These breads also tend to have a slightly longer shelf life.

We know there is growing demand to serve unique, homemade breads that you just can’t find in most grocery stores. You can now find them in our bakeries. Be sure to stop by and ask for a sample!