Martin Philips' "Breaking Bread: A Baker's Journey Home Through 75 Delicious Recipes"

Geraldine: This ebook priced at $2 sounded like a real bargain. Unfortunately, for me, it wasn't even worth that.

I disliked the author's rather pretentious, snobbish attitude almost from the beginning. Seemed to be working hard to impress with his tales of struggles with his hippie upbringing and later on, as a wannabe performer in the Big Apple etc. I wasn't impressed, just bored. If you go in for cookbooks that get well off track with the author's story or "tale of woe", this one may appeal. I found it to be one big snooze-fest.

The recipes also didn't appeal much. Bread after bread photo with "chip a tooth" almost burnt crusts are again, imo, just a turnoff. Nothing jumped out and said, "make me now" quite the opposite.

If I can find at least 5 or more really yummy- looking, well developed recipes in any cookbook, its worth the price. If not, I don't have any use or need for it, no matter how much it's hyped. This one, I got my $2 back.😔

Canada on Apr 26, 2022

Lebloke: an enjoyable story to read as well as some fine recipes

Canada on Dec 10, 2021

O Fay MinifieO Fay Minifie: I haven't read it all yet but what I have read is clear and easy to follow recipies and instructions. The best part is the in-depth explanation of the evolution of methods and the stories. His love of baking is very appealing, an artist at his craft.

Canada on Dec 04, 2020

Queenie: I bought this book after reading about it on David Lebovitz’s blog in 2018. Since David is a former Chez Panisse pastry chef now living, writing, cooking, baking in Paris, I thought he must know what he’s talking about :)

It’s a gorgeous, heartfelt book that’s difficult to put down once you start to read, a fascinating story of a man who found his way to baking, his passion in life. Plus, the recipes (!) as others have mentioned go from simple to complex and I’m eagerly working my way through the book. He’s a born teacher and writer as well, as I find myself returning again and again for instruction. The latest example is his advice about starting, maintaining, and using sourdough culture. Even though I had other sources, his advice was the best. He has a way of simplifying and encouraging that is very helpful to me.

I also like that he includes recipes from his roots in Arkansas and his present life in Vermont. There is a warmth and authenticity about his writing. That warmth is reflected in the natural caramel color/feel of the book in the drawings, layout, design and photography — it’s absolutely gorgeous and has a nourishing feel to it. It’s a...

United States on May 17, 2020

SimoneS: I really enjoy Martin's book and recipes. I keep coming back to read it and try recipes. A good collection of bread and other recipes that work well and often have a different spin on things. So far my favourite recipe to bake is the corn & chives scone recipe. A very flavourful and enjoyable snack. I also like the little side recipes like poached pears, hummus or raita.
The writing is good and engaging and I love the stories throughout the book. Highly recommended!

Canada on May 13, 2020

prisrob: King Arthur Flour Bakery and Store is right up the road a piece, as they say in Vermont. I visit often purchasing bread as often as I can. I am writing this review in the middle of the Covid19 Pandemic, so am not visiting KAF often. I have, however, met Martin Philip, the author, and his son, Arlo, as they bake on Instagram. From their bread, to bagels and today donuts, they open the world and the secrets of making good food.

It has been during this time that Martin mentioned his book, Breaking Bread, the title of which is a great capture of one of my favorite television shows. I have always read my cooking books, and I collect cookbooks and after a bit forward them on to my youngest daughter, our family’s best baker. This is an exceptional cookbook concentrating on bread, that I have read. Martin has centered this book around the places and times of his life. He tells us the stories of his life starting with his roots, and gives us the recipes he learned from his southern grandmother and mother. He moves on to his college years at Oberlin, where he met his wife, and where he continued baking, wooing her with a meal he had frequently at home. Then On to the west coast,...

United States on Apr 01, 2020

Ms. Terry Lunney: I loved this book. There are wonderful recipes and tips for hard to make breads, which you would expect from the title. But A Baker's Journey is also a life story about following your bliss and how, by being true to yourself, you will be happily successful. That he was able to tie it to bread making, is just an added benefit. Enjoy!

Canada on Mar 06, 2020

Marie-ClaudeMarie-Claude: I am what they call a "serious" home baker. I have been buying bread books for more than thirty years (Nancy Silverton's Breads of the La Brea Bakery is what got me making my own starter back in the 90’s,) I have taken classes, I have access to hundreds of recipes either on paper or online, I even like developing my own, in other words I need a new bread book as much as a carpenter ant needs a saw. Yet when I learned that Martin was working on one, I knew I would buy it.
I had met Martin at a grain event, I was familiar with parts of his story and curious to hear the rest of it and, most of all, I had seen him bake: I remember his fingers barely touching the bubbly dough in front of him before baguettes emerged fully shaped. I had been awed.
So I got the book and after baking from it for a while, I am giving it five stars. Let me tell you why.
I like the weaving together together of people, events and recipes. I come from a French family where food was definitely the glue that held us all together, sometimes the only way we knew how to express love. I read the book as an invitation to retrace my own journey. One star.
Right off the bat, looking at the table of...

United States on Dec 19, 2017