It’s obvious that Memphis is starving for a good bakery. An artisan bakery, a hands-on operation where great care is taken in shaping loaves with character.
Simone Wilson’s Doughgirl Pastries and Bread might help fill the void.
It debuted at last week’s Memphis Farmers Market, and appeared to be a huge hit. I bought two loaves and enjoyed them, great texture and good flavor. Just wish there was more to love. They were more like overgrown rolls than loaves.
The best rustic loaf I’ve had recently came from the freezer at Valenza Pasta on McLean and Madison, near Fino’s (home of the best sandwich in Memphis…) This bread is “par-baked” from a bakery in San Francisco. And it’s $3 a loaf, cheaper than the other California import, the iffy La Brea (good when it’s fresh, but short shelf life.)
Any other righteous dough that I’m overlooking?
Let's eat
Responses to “Bread report”
July 25th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Fresh Market has some selections that are marginally better than most. Nope, for great artisan bread you still have to get out the KitchenAid and spend a day off and on growing it yourself. Lately I’ve been making dark loaves from Xingu black beer, half wheat and half white flour, and molasses. A nice crumb with a slightly sweet, slightly sour mouth. An excellent deliver vehicle for summer jams.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Sherie McKelvie, who was a baker at City Bread back when it had GREAT bread, has rented commercial kitchen space, put in ovens and is baking some excellent breads as “La Morinda Bakery.” It’s available retail here at Mantia’s and at Miss Cordelia’s. She also provides bread to some of the better restaurants. We have it Tuesday-Friday (it comes in still warm about 10 AM), with fabulous baguettes every day, and then alternating jalapeno-cheddar, sesame-semolina, cranberry-walnut sourdough, kalamata olive, and on Fridays, excellent challah.
That said, she’s taking a little well-earned summer break right now, but check with us or Miss Cordelia’s for her return.
July 25th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Ricki’s Cookies in Eastgate Shopping Center is by far the best bakery in town. Unfortunately, Ricki only bakes on Wednesdays and Fridays, but the cookies, bars, and breads are unmatched.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
If you get out here to the rural boonies, the Mennonites at China Grove TN(near Rutherford TN), the ones at Ada’s Bakery in Bethel Springs TN, and the ones in Whiteville TN near Anderson’s Apple and Peach Orchards have a great selection of bread items.
ALl of their bakes goods are from scratch.
Plus a group of Mennonites have a small dairy that sells milk. The dairy is in Wildersville TN. That is just east of Jackson.
The milk is sold in glass bottles (as in the old days. They have whole, butter, strawberry, and chocolate milk. They sell it at the Jackson Farmer’s Market and on different days in various rural West Tennessee towns.
Here is the address information: The dairy is just south of exit 108 on I-40, Rock Springs Dairy: (731) 968-8360, 450 Rue Hamner Rd, Wildersville, TN
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:22 am
Went to Bari Monday night and not only was the dinner REALLY good, the bread was spectacular. It was the old world style. Wonderful crusty outside and beautifully soft in the center.
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