And I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long! We had an interesting year in 2010. We attended the IBIE – International Baking Industry Exibition – in Las Vegas the end of September. We hadn’t been for 12 years and it was so good to be immersed in classes and talk to industry people. This was the first time the Bread Bakers Guild of America and the Retail Bakers of America participated in presenting classes and demonstrations – such valuable information!! I took all three of the classes taught by the Bread Bakers Guild and my husband and I sat in on many of the demonstrations put on the the Retail Bakers. Two demonstrations stood out for us – one on French macarons and one on artisan breads put on by Michel Suas founder of the San Francisco Baking Institute. I found out all the things I had done wrong when I tried to make macarons. Michel gave an excellent demonstration with step by step instructions for making the macarons. On the demonstration of artisan breads he reinforced what I had been taught in the classes on bread baking put on by the Bread Bakers Guild. He later told me that the instructors I had there, had originally baked under him! Great info, great instructors, well worth the time and trouble.
I was feeling pretty burned out on baking and I definitely got my “fire” back at the show! When we returned – I was so anxious to get in the bakery and instead, ended up having emergency surgery and didn’t get back to work until December – such is life.
So, now that the holidays are out of the way – it’s on to baking using some of the great things I learned in Las Vegas!! Today is pastry – I’ll let you know how it goes!! In the meantime, here is a picture of the sunrise this morning – we’re located in rural Lewis County in western Washington State.
It's good to see the sun coming up!
