Conversations and reflections from our corner of the sourdough world: the bakers, the questions, and the loaves that keep us inspired. Pull up a chair.
Sent home to Madrid overnight when the pandemic hit, 23-year-old Ines built a starter she named Ambrosia. Her first loaf was the ugliest bread she had ever made, and the one that saved her.
Working from home and feeling adrift, Bryan took up sourdough for a little structure. He nearly quit after a run of flat loaves, until a friend's encouragement kept him going and the bread handed back his patience and confidence.
Shiyun's family used to put the bread back on the shelf the moment they saw 'sourdough.' So she learned to bake the soft, sweet loaves they love, and turned every bake into a canvas, scoring cats and paw prints into her shokupan.
A new mom in lockdown, Yana lost her first starter (rest in peace, Mark Ruffaloaf) before Yeast Buscemi finally delivered. A funny, heartfelt love letter to the comfort, creativity, and quiet therapy of baking bread.