Whether this is for a beginning baker or someone a bit more advanced, I’ve listed stuff that I use daily (bench scraper, rolling pin, bread lame, BOOKS!) as well as some fun sparing use stuff (tart shell pans, different flours, etc)! My only main hope and goal is that you find the smaller retailers, artisans, and bakers to purchase from as opposed to Amazon. Amazon is going to be just fine in this pandemic, but it’s the neighborhood cook shops, book sellers, flour millers that need us!!!
Via COOKS WAREHOUSE : Online or In Person Shopping Available
*yes you can find a lot of this on Amazon, but let’s try to keep the local guys in business this year. Cooks Warehouse in one of my FAVORITE SPOTS in ATL not only because I did most of my in person teaching here prepandemic, but they also are great VERY HELPFUL humans with a wide range of cool kitchen gadgets!
Dough Mixing Vessels: CAMBROS are my favorite and sometimes they have them at Cooks, call as ask!
Proofing Bannetons (Oval 11.5x5 or Round 8”)
Bread Knife - a good loaf of bread is only as good as the knife that slices into it! highly recommend offset as well!
Via The PASTRY DEPOT in ATL : Online or by Appt Shopping
*Such an awesome baking resource in ATL
specialty tart pans, loaf pans, scales, piping materials, etc
Via ETSY: Online Shopping Only
*for most of my everyday tools, I like things that I like to look at and things that will last and things that are made with heart and craft and Etsy really is a cool spot to find very neat artisan goods. My mom gave me that Walnut carved Rolling Pin and it is one of my greatest treasures.
BOOKS via KITCHEN ARTS + LETTERS INC (independent BookStores!)
*This shop is in NYC, I know that’s not local, but it has such an amazing collection of baking and cookbooks! In ATL, call A CAPELLA BOOKS or shop directly through these authors sites!!!!! AMAZON will not go broke but these independent guys will and it’ll shake up everything.
BREAD:
THE SOURDOUGH SCHOOL!! by Vanessa Kimball. MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!
Traite de Boulangerie au Levain by Thomas Teffri-Chambelland
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson
Bread is Gold- by Massimo Bottura for interesting ways to use your bread
Modernist Bread- intense and very thorough and one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received
The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum
Poilane one of Paris’ oldest neighborhood bakeries that still serves today!
Kitchen Wise by Shirley O. Corriher- an encyclopedia of why things do what they do in cooking and baking. It’s my second most invaluable book!
The Flavor Bible - Learning to cook via taste and flavor as opposed to a recipe. THIS is MY MOST INVALUABLE BOOK!
PASTRY:
BRAVETART!!! by Stella Parks. MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!
Back in the Day Bakery!! by Cheryl + Griffin Day. MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE via Savannah, GA!
Sweet by Ottolenghi
The Sourdough School Sweet Baking by Vanessa Kimball
Sweeter Off the Vine by Yossi Arefi
FOOD WRITING/ WHY WE EAT: there is no better way to get inspired in the kitchen than via food writing, these are some of my favorites
Cooked by Michael Pollan
ANYTHING MFK FISHER her writing TRANSPORTS ME.
Via MISCELLANEOUS : Online
Lodge Dutch Oven Combo Cooker for sourdough baking at home
RIVERVIEW FARMS CORNMEAL via Chop Shop (instead of Rice Flour for baking bread)
Good Oven Mitts!!! Y’all have seen my burns, they are no joke. I am still on the hunt for the best oven mitt but for now these are the best I’ve seen. Yes, one glove is $43 but it lasts!
The only Bench Scraper I like is sadly only on Amazon. The thick wood handle is the only thing I like and will use
JOIN A CLUB?! LEARN MORE?!
Join the Sourdough School and pay to actually learn from a bread master! Full of unique online learning, recipes, and tips- this is how you get better at baking … by learning and paying for learning from a master!
Gift Certificate to BREAD IS GOOD / ME! I will be putting on some online workshops during the first part of the year so purchase a gift certificate that can be used for classes or weekly bread delivery!
LOCALLY GROWN + MILLED FLOURS / GRAINS!
Dayspring Farms: also have great corn products
Lindley Mills : prefer for Bread doughs
Carolina Ground : love for both bread and pastry. (the whole wheat pastry flour is one of my favorite favorites!)
