This is Peter Reinhart, a master baker, a theologian and a story teller who has written a great book on baking called The Baker’s Apprentice. In this talk he discusses the science of baking, but puts it in the context of the meaning of bread as an act of transformation from living components to new forms.
Reinhart speaks from the four levels of the literal, metaphoric/poetic, political/ethical and mystical level. As a novice bread baker, I have to say that my exploration of the literal level is just beginning, and although I make some pretty good breads now, this dive into the deeper meaning of baking bread is fascinating, and takes my mixing, kneading, forming and baking to new levels.
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Chris, you might enjoy watching “how to cook your life” a documentary by Doris Dörrie. It profiles the Zen master Edward Espe Brown (author of the amazing Tassajara Bread Book). Movie is interesting not only for Zen/cooking lessons but also to see how even after so many years of practice, Espe Brown still battles anger.
Comment by Elizabeth — January 30, 2009 #
Cool…thanks for the tip. Battling anger IS practice. That’s it…that’s the whole thing. Whatever your thing is, being mindful about it is the whole path. Would love to see the doc.
Comment by Chris Corrigan — January 30, 2009 #
Chris, so bizarre - I was just talking about the book (I saw it on the shelf of a colleague when I lived in NY…) and here it was on your blog
thank you!
(found via your ditto ‘big fat smile’ to dave’s post…)
Comment by natalie — February 6, 2009 #
Coool video. I liked the bit about beer being liquid bread, and bread being solid beer. What a pair, those two.
Comment by Jeremy — February 12, 2009 #