In Search of the Perfect Loaf: A Home Baker’s Odyssey

Samuel Fromartz

Nov 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Josh Bloomberg

About this audiobook

In 2009, journalist Samuel Fromartz was offered the assignment of a lifetime: to travel to France to work in a boulangerie. So began his quest to hone not just his homemade baguette-which later beat out professional bakeries to win the "Best Baguette of DC"-but his knowledge of bread, from seed to table. For the next four years, Fromartz traveled across the United States and Europe, perfecting his sourdough in California, his whole grain rye in Berlin, and his country wheat in the South of France. Along the way, he met historians, millers, farmers, wheat geneticists, sourdough biochemists, and everyone in between, learning about the history of breadmaking, the science of fermentation, and more. The result is an informative yet personal account of bread and breadbaking, complete with detailed recipes and tips. Entertaining and inspiring, this book will be a touchstone for a new generation of bakers and a must-listen for anyone who wants to take a deeper look at this deceptively ordinary, exceptionally delicious staple: handmade bread.

About the author

Samuel Fromartz's work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Atlantic, among other publications. He lives in Washington, DC.

Josh Bloomberg has recorded audiobooks for most of the major publishers, lending his voice to many different genres. His versatility and acting background have helped him access the styles needed for a variety of works.