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bannetons and brotformen

Frank.Yuhasz@pentairpump.com
Tue, 8 Jan 2002 20:13:19 -0500
v102.n002.1
With all due respect, the recent posts about banneton include too much 
whining about the relative cost of these special dough-rising baskets. 
Surely some of the 5000+ folks that subscribe to this list care about good 
bread and feel the same as I do.  Though in some instances it might be 
admirable to "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" but to make an 
imitation is NOT the same as the genuine article.  Yes, you COULD proof a 
rustic loaf in a cheap China-made basket lined with unwashable fabric of 
unknown origin, or line an ordinary bowl with a linen dish towel, but it 
won't be the same.  The characteristic imprint made by the beautiful 
craftsmanship of an Austrian-made brotformen cannot be duplicated by these 
cut-rate means.  You get what you pay for!  Using good tools and caring for 
them properly add joy to the creative process of building extraordinary 
bread.  In the big picture, a $25,000 car or a $250,000 home is expensive. 
A $25 banneton is not.

May your dough always rise and your crust be crisp!
Carolyn