Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow Rise As Method and Metaphor [Hardcover]

Peter Reinhart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Brother Juniper's Bakery in Sonoma County, Calif., is run by Brother Peter Reinhart and his wife Sister Susan as a ministry of the Christ the Saviour Brotherhood. And Reinhart's subtitle introduces some amiable confusion, for whereas the author argues for the "slow rise" method as a general principle in developing "character" in a bread and crust and demonstrates its application in a fine recipe and procedure for "Sweet French Bread," more frequently he departs from it. The highly praised "Struan," for instance, a five-grain traditional Scottish "golden loaf" that "radiates in many directions," tolerates only two rather quick risings, character being born by "conditioners" such as buttermilk and polenta, rather than process. Brother Peter's wish to present a central principle for bread lets us in for a certain amount of New Age claptrap that is, however, well balanced by pragmatism. He makes insightful use of whole grains but has not a word to spare for unleavened breads. This book has much to say to the experienced baker, although the novice will find basics adequately covered.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 193 pages
• Publisher: Perseus Books (October 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201570769
• ISBN-13: 978-0201570762
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PETER REINHART is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on bread. He is the author of six books on bread baking, including the 2008 James Beard Award-winning WHOLE GRAIN BREADS; the 2002 James Beard and IACP Cookbook of the Year, THE BREAD BAKER'S APPRENTICE; and the 1999 James Beard Award-winning CRUST AND CRUMB. He is a full-time baking instructor at Johnson and Wales University and the owner of Pie Town restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow to Rise as a method &..., October 2, 2000

By 

Samantha Jensen (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow Rise As Method and Metaphor (Hardcover)

This is a very easy to read bread book. It has quirky annecdotes and fun stories. It is written in plain english, so it is easy to read for the first time bread baker. It has an awesome trouble shooting section and great tips. It also has wonderful recipes that taste fantastic. It is truly a book that one can sit down with and finish in a day and come away ready to bake bread with the best. I would truly recommend it for the baker who wants more than just a recipe. It is great for the baker who wants to know why to do it this way as oppossed to that way. It is also great for the baker who just needs some refreshing on a subject. You can easily browse the book and go to a particular chapter and jump right in. I highly recommend it for anyone who want to learn to bake some awesome tasting and wholesome bread!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading and baking, January 8, 2003

By 

Ellen @CheapCooking.com "Ellen" (Pleasanton, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow Rise As Method and Metaphor (Hardcover)

Bread making is money saving and soul enhancing. I still like to make bread by hand, even though I own a bread machine. And this book helped me make truly delicious French bread. Just wonderful! The reading is also good for your soul. If you have more time than money...

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Searching For a Cogent Thought - Or, a Palatable Recipe, November 4, 2006

By 

Southern Review (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow Rise As Method and Metaphor (Hardcover)

.
........A book searching for a cogent thought, and a palatable recipe.

I have never comfortably embraced this author, his recipes, or his mode of expressing himself, and this effort in no way reverses that judgment.

I find his books pedantic and inflated. The aimless text asserts such device as the sound of crust "causing a religious experience." Since he avoids all specific association with a traditional chantry, the context of such contrivances is completely confused and disordered. He speaks as well of channeling and alchemy.

The religiously disjointed text embroiders such balmy combinations as traditional Buddhist expressions indiscriminately combined with those of Tao, along with other platitudinous Eastern religious utterance; he sometimes culminates his thoughts with the lyrics of Van Morison. This book is embarrassingly inane.

The text much reminds me of the old joke "If you can remember the 60's - you weren't there!" The person writing this manufactured artifice superficially speaks to "the great cosmic law," Allah, and Kung Fu all implying a weakness of intellect and conspicuous foolishness.

His recipes are awkward by today's standard. They require much sugar, salt, and commercial yeast. His corn bread recipe calls for one-and-a-half Cups of Sugar! The retarding methods are less than au courant; moreover, he uses volume measurements instead of weight.

This book, as the rock stars it quotes; fails the passage of time.