Tartine Bread is a very good introductory textbook, rather than a cookbook, on baking naturally leavened, or sourdough, bread. Why do I call it a textbook and not a cookbook? A cookbook is a collection of recipes that one can choose from almost at random and expect any techniques required to be explained in the recipe; one doesn't have to read or study anything much outside the recipe chosen, and the techniques described aren't discussed in depth. Tartine Bread, in contrast, has a lengthy and in-depth discussion of most of the techniques required by subsequent recipes in the first one, Basic Country Bread, and does not discuss them elsewhere; furthermore, many important terms used in the other recipes, for example, leaven, rest, bench rest, turn, bulk fermentation, are defined in that recipe and nowhere else. A careful reading of the Basic Country Bread recipe is therefore necessary to approach the other recipes in the book. But it is also a textbook in the sense that the techniques described can be freely applied elsewhere: I applied the dough handling methods described in the Basic Country Bread recipe to a sourdough bread recipe from another cookbook, and not only had to expend very little effort (Basic Country Bread dough is intermittently "turned" during its first rise rather than kneaded) but was rewarded with the best rise of any bread I'd baked to date, and a tender crumb.
I find there are some significant shortcomings to Tartine Bread, however. Most seriously, the discussion of how to make a starter is both laborious and vague; there are many simpler and more detailed instructions for making starter available on the web. If I hadn't already had some starter of my own, I might have given up all hope on reading the method here. (If you're already familiar with how to make starter, the starter used in Tartine Bread is 50% bread flour/50% whole wheat with 100% hydration). Not as serious but certainly annoying is that while there are plenty of photographs along with the Basic Country Bread recipe that show the dough handling techniques, they aren't labeled with the specific step they show and often aren't on or facing the page where the step shown is discussed. Last (and least important, but I've got to say it), I find the prose in the introduction and accompanying materials a bit precious and breathy. In sum, however, I find this is a valuable book on baking bread, and one I'll be referring to often.
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The Tartine Way
After these magnificent loaves are drawn from the oven, the first cut yields steam and room-filling aroma, exposing a tender interior underneath the burnished crust. From Chad Robertson, winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2008, this distinctive bread was developed over a decade of working with the finest artisan bakers in the USA and France, followed by another decade baking in a small wood-fired oven on the Northern California coast.
Now it's your turn to make this bread. Clear instructions and hundreds of step-by-step photos put you by Chad Robertson's side as he shows you how to make exceptional and elemental bread using just flour, water, and salt.
Also included are variations from this master recipe showcasing a wonderfully diverse set of breads and more than 30 sweet and savory recipes using the day-old bread to make sandwiches, classic soups, puddings, delicious baked French toast, and an addictive Kale Caesar.
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Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon.com
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760 reviews
Leon Robinson
A very good introductory text, rather than collection of recipes, on naturally leavened bread
6 September 2017 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Pamela J. Peerce Landers
Best Book If You Want to Make Artisan Loaves
22 December 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Best Book If You Want to Make Artisan Loaves
Reviewed in the United States on 22 December 2016
Chad Robertson explains step by step how to bake the perfect loaf. Testers with no baking experience were recruited to see whether professional loaves could be baked at home. All succeeded in making loaves indistinguishable from the author's. His point is, you can do it without a commercial steam-injected oven.Reviewed in the United States on 22 December 2016
What do you need that you may not already have? 3 Items.
1. A 3-qt cast iron casserole or combo cooker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482380697&sr=sr-1&keywords=Cast+iron+combo+cooker. I used my old LeCreset casserole.
2. A couple of bannetons https://www.amazon.com/Banneton-Bread-Proofing-Basket-Beautiful/dp/B01E52S2UI/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1482380774&sr=1-5&keywords=bannetons.
3. And rice flour. (I am assuming you have whole wheat flour and bread flour or can buy them at your local grocery.)
I followed the instructions for the basic loaf and was amazed at the results. Thick crust, tender crumb, lots of irregular holes and big ears. The author explains that if you want big ears, you must do nearly horizontal slashes.
Here are my results:
Images in this review
jamie
I don't get all the great reviews
5 May 2020 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
EML
Best Bread Book Ever
24 March 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Best Bread Book Ever
Reviewed in the United States on 24 March 2016
SInce a teenager I have been making sour dough bread... for 15 years I tried & tried to make big round artesian boule's ... but failed every time, I tried different recipes, different books... by fluke I borrowed this from the library, read the book 2x, studying all the fantastic photo's & lengthy descriptions... it paid off... for the last 5 years I have been making the basic Country Sour Dough. It is easy to follow, easy to make & the best bread ever to to be eaten. Everywhere I go everyone wants the recipe. If I buy bread like it, it costs $9-12 per loaf, I can make it with Organic flour for $2.50 give or take a dollar. Why buy the book? So you can make for a few minutes in a 24 hour perios the most amazing bread on the planet!!!!!Reviewed in the United States on 24 March 2016
The photo's are of double the recipe just hot out of the oven. I used Kamut, spelt, Rye & wheat flour.
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cossan512
Yes.
15 November 2017 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Yes.
Reviewed in the United States on 15 November 2017
Follow the instructions and you can't go wrong. Chad Robertson tells you precisely what to expect when things are going right, and that's exactly what happens. Excellent instruction. Pay careful attention to the details, such as dough temp during bulk rise, and you can't go wrong. I have never baked anything before in my life. And I pulled these two loafs out of my oven this morning. I used rye to get the starter going strong. Took about two weeks for me to get it on it's feet and learn how to read what it's doing.
Reviewed in the United States on 15 November 2017
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