Dan Leader

When I got my copy recently of Dan Leaders book Local Breads, it reminded me of how it was his first book with the namesake of his bakery Bread Alone that had inspired me to learn how to make sourdough breads. Later on I actually took a nine-month course at the FCI where Dan had set up the curriculum for the schools bread program. So this past Saturday as I furiously pedaled from my home in Queens to Prospect park in  Brooklyn where we agreed to meet for an interview I tried putting some intelligent questions through my head that would make some sense! Just making time at the appointed hour I was to meet Dan I got off my saddle and made for the Bread Alone stand full of bread and people waiting in line to buy loaves. Dan was standing there, I recognized him from pictures from his book, "hey Dan, umm hello ", he didn't hear me, it was the street noise ,drilling in the street and so many peoples voices in the market. He  just happened to turn around  as my hand was outstretched to meet his, "hi I'm Jeremy, Jeremy Shapiro, from stirthepots ?" Dan said hello and started by saying what a beautiful day it was, he then asked me about my blog and what made me talk about bread! This interview was by far I think my favorite, the reason being that Dan I think of all the bakers I have spoken with really loves baking, and yet he isn't going to dissuade you from entertaining the idea of starting a bakery, no, instead he encourages and warns you to  make sure you know what your getting into first, It’s hard work!

This is information regarding Dan's work in South Africa check it out!

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Comments

[David]

Thanks!

[Jonathan Field]

David, thanks for telling us. We'll look into it. Jonitin

[David]

This podcast seems to have disappeared. Any chance that it can be re-posted?

[Aaron M. Fabun]

Cool interview. Enjoyed the listen. I have baked a few loaves from his new book. They have been beautiful. Wrote him about a formula discrepancy for the buckwheat levain, and he promptly emailed back to see he was working on the correction and would send it soon. That was a great gesture. He is allright in my book.

Thanks for the listen. Nice work.

[Jonitin]

Thanks Nils,
Dan is a really interesting baker and I think I also have issues with editing in his book, but if you have some baking background or experience you ought to be able to overcome those problems, that or e-mail Bread Alone and ask for some help! I think that the bread industry and small bakers or bakeries are what makes the difference with good and awful bread, still it's hard to make good bread either way!
Jeremy

[Nils]

Another very cool interview, Jeremy. Daniel sounds like a nice person to chat with. It is great to have books like his, even if they might have benefitted from the supervision of a good editor. Maybe Leader's fresh view on European breads will also improve European bread, who knows.

One of the most interesting baking country at the moment seems to be England, where baking professionals with charisma write passionately about bread and forgotten methods.

Nils