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 It's
time to bring good bread into American lives.
So says Tom Gumpel, Panera Bread's
Chief Baker, who believes that bread can enhance the flavor of
any meal if paired appropriately. High-quality, correctly paired
bread can catapult any meal, from hors d'oeuvre to entrees, into
the extraordinary.
"Pairing breads is a lot like pairing wine or beer with
certain foods," Gumpel said. "Certain breads work particularly
well with various meats, spreads or cheeses. Sometimes people
need suggestions to find the right complementary pair."
Flavor, grain and texture should
all be considered when choosing a bread pairing. For example,
while cheese, pasta and bread pair famously, Panera's Asiago
cheese bread paired with a pasta dish would likely be too heavy.
Instead, try thick slices of Ciabatta, which complement but do
not overpower the meal.
Though bread pairing is not a
new concept, there were a "few dark years" where people
slowed down their bread consumption, Gumpel said.
"Thankfully the period of
shunning bread is over. Bread is back and people are willing
to embrace it as a delicious and essential element of any meal,"
he said.
The following recipes feature
a variety of fresh breads. Though simple to execute, they are
elegant in presentation, savory in flavor and highlight one of
the most delicious foods in the world of bread.
RECIPES:
For quick reference, see Tom
Gumpel's chart of perfect pairings.
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