European Bread?

My mother and father-in-law lived in England for over 20 years and have lived in Belgium for about a year. Well, they're moving back to Louisville in June and one thing they told me they were going to miss was the European bread...you know the crusty-type bread. I'm racking my brain and I can't think of where in Louisville they make that type bread. Any help?

Blue Dog Bakery makes some excellent hard crusty breads, not quite what you find in Europe but pretty darn good. In my opinion it's probably as close as you're going to come in Louisville, as well as most other American cities. They have a European made wood fired oven that they use for their baking.

Thanks Mark. Great suggestion! I completely forgot about Blue Dog Bakery. My mother-in-law is in town for a few weeks right now and I will try to stop by there tomorrow to get some for her to try. Any one else have suggestions?

Know what you are talking about ......the hubs lives in Kortrijk,BE part time, and in order to find that lovliness here you will have to go to Blue dog.

[Robin Garr]

Blue Dog! They will be very, very happy. Go to the bakery (and restaurant) on Frankfort Avenue or pick it up at a number of local vendors - Doll's, Gemelli Wines, Wine Rack, Old Town ... quite a few places have it.

I just stopped by Blue Dog today and picked up a loaf of Levian. I'll let you know what they think!

[Robin Garr]

I just stopped by Blue Dog today and picked up a loaf of Levian. I'll let you know what they think!

You might also try them on the Pugliese and baguettes ...

Blue Dog is great, but you do have to get there early. I have stopped by two afternoons, and they were all out!

[Robin Garr]

Blue Dog is great, but you do have to get there early. I have stopped by two afternoons, and they were all out!

Phil, check Old Town Wines in your neighborhood. They carry Blue Dog breads delivered fresh daily, and they've usually got some left around dinner time.

(Note also that Bob Hancock, the wonderfully crazed baker at Blue Dog, does not WANT his breads available after a day or so - he doesn't want people eating stale bread with his company's name on it, so he only makes enough to sell.)

Thanks Robin. That's a great suggestion as I have been hanging around Old Town lately sniffing out some bottles.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks Robin. That's a great suggestion as I have been hanging around Old Town lately sniffing out some bottles.

Good pick. Old Town is one of the best shops in town for wine geeks, in my opinion.

I for one will say that I LOVE Colleen's bread. I can't WAIT for her oven to get up and running again.

During the BLT challenge, all I wanted was to use her (Colleen, is it Potato-?)Rosemary bread for my entry. Alas, it wasn't available, because her gorgeous wood-fired oven was out of commission for the time being.

Colleen - any time line on the oven repair? I know it's not like you can just call a wood-fired-oven-Maytag-repairman.

Seriously, great bread. Crusty, crusty, fragrant, lovely bread.

Colleen, list the varieties you were producing weekly?

Bravo Colleen - you posted before I could post your bread as a must try.

I usually bake my own bread; however we had the fortunate opportunity to have your rosemary bread for our thanksgiving feast and it was hands down the best bread I've had in this city. The crust just talks to you when you squeeze it with all of its crackles and the airy texture is fantastic. And, oh the flavor, the flavor...

I'll take your bread over any available locally.

It's....so good. Great, now I want some.

Keep us posted on the oven repair status, Colleen.

Ooh, and yes - farmer's market status reports, too, please!

Wow! I didn't know this bread post would spark such a controversy! I tried the Levian from Blue Dog Bakery today and it was fabulous! I can't wait to try the other breads! Oh and the mothere-in-law was pretty impressed. So, that was great. Thanks everybody for the help.

Coleen, if you end up fixing your oven and selling your bread again (or should I say when you do!) please let us know and I'd love to try it!

Thanks again!