One of the best ways to learn a hands-on skill is… well… by doing it hands-on with someone who knows how to show you the way, tweak your technique and guide your learning. Dusty already has an apprentice (the AMAZING WILSON), but may be on the look-out again in the future.
Dusty also hopes to offer bread courses soon.
Meanwhile, if you’re more than weekend-keen, check out the tertiary institutes for Baking courses - or look for a job and ask about Apprenticeship schemes. Bread Bakers are an in-demand skilled worker in NZ and Dusty has had job offers from all around the world, so think where you could go with this!
Do a Culinary Safari
Not for every budget, but we also highly recommend a trip to San Fransisco:
- Do a course at the world-renowned San Fransisco Baking Institute (SFBI). You’ll learn heaps and meet amazing people https://www.sfbi.com/courses.html
- queue up for the good stuff at:
https://www.tartinebakery.com/
https://boudinbakery.com/
- and, nothing to do with bread, but bread tourism is tourism all the same, so totally totally go to the R18 evening of the Exploratorium (so so so much fun! https://www.exploratorium.edu/ ), jump on a hop-on-hop-off busride to see the city, and go to a baseball game, too. (If you’re not already American and in the know, then you should see those fans in action. Serious family fun. Get an uber and be there in time for the anthem.)
Look online or Just Read Books
The bread world is heavily into Instagram. Check out Dusty’s account if you want to get a feel for the community (https://www.instagram.com/thedustyapron/ ).
If you can’t get out to see the world, then get to your library and get started:
A couple of good books that will help you make your own sourdough (and there are lots of these out there, because it’s a totally zen and delicious skill to develop):
Jeffrey Hamelman (2004) Bread: a baker’s book of techniques and recipes. Hoboken, MJ
Jane Mason; recipes by Ed Wood et al. (2015) Homemade sourdough: Mastering the art and science of baking with starters and wild yeast. Voyageur Press, Minneapolis, USA
Andrew Whitley (2014) Do Sourdough: Slow bread for busy lives. The Do Book Company
Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson (2006) Tartine. Chronicle Books. San Fransisco