“No writing is wasted: the words you can’t put in your book can wash the floor, live in the soil, lurk around in the air. They will make the next words better.”-Erin Bow
“No writing is wasted. Did you know that sourdough from San Francisco is leavened partly by a bacteria called lactobacillus sanfrancisensis? It is native to the soil there, and does not do well elsewhere. But any kitchen can become an ecosystem. If you bake a lot, your kitchen will become a happy home to wild yeasts, and all your bread will taste better. Even a failed loaf is not wasted. Likewise, cheese makers wash the dairy floor with whey. Tomato gardeners compost with rotten tomatoes. No writing is wasted: the words you can’t put in your book can wash the floor, live in the soil, lurk around in the air. They will make the next words better.”
― Erin Bow
I was born and grew up part the way in San Francisco. You could buy fresh San Francisco sourdough bread all over The City. I really love dark crust sourdough bread with some dry Italian salami and a good cheese, a semi-soft cheese like teleme or Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Station, Ca. Seems like the only place you can get the original sourdough dark crust bread by Boudin Bakery is at Tadish Grill Restaurant. Both Boudin and Tadish Grill have been around since SF Gold Rush days (1849).
One Liner Wednesday is hosted by Linda G Hill. Featured image of San Francisco sourdough bread and beer by Jon Sullivan on wikimedia, Image of Red Hawk cheese by Frank Schulenburg on wikimedia, Image of Columbus salami by Kent Wang on Flickr. Had to throw in the Image of Humboldt Fog cheese via Sharona Gott on Flickr.
A beautiful, comforting line.
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Thank you, JoAnna. 🙂
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I like this a lot, words always rush through my mind at difficult moments, ideas that don’t work when presented to the audience present, I like to think, like atomic structures that are always seeking the lowest state of energy, they’ll find their way to some use.
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It is a lovely idea to think that words we have written ( or thought) and discarded are still there to add to something we will create in the future. Thanks, Dan. 🙂
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I love the real sourdough bread that I’ve had out there. We have kinda crummy imitations here.
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Even in Southern California we don’t get bread like in San Francisco. I could order it online but can’t get that dark crust anymore.
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Sourdough bread and a beer – that’s a great combination, although I would opt for a little ghee and honey. 🙂
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I haven’t tried ghee but I do like butter on this bread. I’m getting hungry now. 🙂
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I eat ghee because clarified butter is lactose free. It allows me to enjoy butter without having the side effects of the regular stuff.
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I have heard of it. Well it’s good you can still enjoy a type of butter.
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Mmm, I would like some, please! What we have here is good, but it’s not SF good. Rather like the bakeries that use French flour for baguettes — that’s the closest I’ve gotten to the real thing. I can imagine you miss it.
Excellent metaphor from the quote.
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I’m making myself miss it more with this post. 😉 Yes, french bread is not the same. Thank you, Joey. ❤
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Sounds good and looks good! 🙂
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Yep. It is good. 🙂
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I didn’t know that about lactobacillus sanfrancisensis. Good quote about words.
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I knew there was a starter that was around forever but I did not know it was lactobacillus sanfrancisensis either. Pretty cool. Thank you, Frank. 🙂
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For some reason the sour in the SF sourdough isn’t as strong as it used to be. We blame everything on climate change these days, so maybe that’s the reason. 🙂 I love the idea of no words wasted. I even keep the rotten ones just in case they fit somewhere in a future piece. Thanks of the interesting post.
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I like your idea about keeping words. It is hard to find authentic SF Sourdough. In San Francisco I think there is only one bakery that is still making it, Boudin. They used to use a starter ( mother dough) that is 160 years old http://gizmodo.com/san-franciscos-iconic-sourdough-is-made-from-160-year-1542168651 Many bakeries in SF do not make the original sourdough. Thank you, Clee. 🙂
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There is a warmth in this line, Deborah! Looks delicious – I have never tasted sourdough bread.
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It is a very encouraging line. Hope you get the chance to taste authentic San Francisco sourdough bread. 🙂
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Your making me thirsty.
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Nice! Perhaps you need to start your own sourdough adventure–I’m giving away starter all this month. 🙂
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Sounds interesting but I am not baking my own sourdough at this time. You are making me hungry thinking about it though. 🙂
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