Water, flour, salt.

The art and science of sourdough

LEAVEN

Instruction

A friend once called sourdough bread “The philosopher’s stone” and there is truth in this, as the sourdough process transforms hard and flinty grain into a flavoursome, digestible, nutritious treasure. The growth and maintenance of the leaven holds the key to unlocking the treasure.

APPLE CIder
sourdough loaf

A recipe

The first “sourdough” I ever made was straight from the muse. Mildly flavoured, really simple, inherently organic, a true rustic bread.

baking a light
wholemeal loaf

A video tutorial

A step-by-step follow-along video: Watch as John crafts a delicious crusty sourdough basket bread, explaining the process as he goes.

MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTH

John’s musing on bread,
food and nutrition

A lifetime spent researching, creating and serving food, both as a chef and a baker, has given John considerable insight into the culinary/cultural tropes behind cuisine, culture and wellbeing.