On bread and summertime...
Bread and high summer temperatures and high humidity are not necessarily good companions! And we offer an awesome bread in our store that I want all my customers to be satisfied with. So, a little information about how to manage an artisan baked product is in order.
What it is? We carry Waterhouse Foods baked goods. These breads are so wonderful, and full of great flavor. The baguettes and loaves are an all-natural bread, lacking those preservatives which lengthens shelf life, and that many of us have decided we are better off without. This 'better' bread is meant to be eaten soon after it is baked. Like loaves you get at any great local baker, the bread leaves the baker still living. It needs to breath. Just like cheese, it doesn't like being wrapped in plastic for long periods of time, and, while you can keep it refrigerated for a short time to thaw, it is best to leave it on your counter or in a bread box. If you must wrap, just use a paper or waxed bag.
How do I choose a bread?
First, no two loaves or baguettes are going to look the same. That's the beauty of the product. Hand made and individually loved into existence by a passionate creator.
Why is it frozen? A lot of confusion about breads occurs when people realize the bread comes to us frozen. First, as to the nature of business in a small store. We see perhaps 10 people in our store on a normal weekday, and maybe 20 - 25 on a busy weekend day. Of course, not all those people buy bread! So, I order weekly from Shawn and Rae at WHF. The bread he brings me promptly goes in to my freezer, to remain as fresh as possible, to be brought out daily as needed.
How do you care for it?
All you need do, after purchasing, is set it out to thaw and warm to room temperature, and it's good to go. In winter, we recommend 10 minutes at 350 degrees in your oven. In summer, you can leave the bread in a warm, sunny spot in the kitchen.
If you need to keep a loaf of Shawn's great bread for more than a couple days, it would be wise to take home the already frozen bread, place it in an airtight freezer bag, and store it in your home freezer. And, this is the only time your bread should meet a plastic bag!
Look at the picture below of Shawn's European sourdough, and tell me they are not too lovely too resist. Come on in and try a sample! We can special order just for you. To order WHF breads, just call Laura on Tuesday with your order, bread is delivered early Thursday morning. You can pick it up after we open at 11 a.m.
*You can check out all the Waterhouse Foods baked products at www.waterhousefoods.com.
