Month: May 2011

Wet weather is preventing farmers in the Northern Plains from planting the spring wheat crop, prized for a high protein content crucial for baking bread. Growers in the southern Plains and western Europe have had the opposite problem, as drought cuts output in the other major regions where high-quality wheat is grown. …

The first thing most people do when they walk into Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery is breathe. The scent of fresh bread is pervasive and almost intoxicating. Mbaye, a native of Senegal, opened Mamadou’s on Swanton Street in 2008. Since then, he has cultivated a loyal customer base, as well as local restaurant and wholesale accounts. …

Macarons are on the cusp of becoming the next cupcake, the "it" dessert of the moment, prized for their portability and pastel prettiness. We're talking about the delicate French sandwich confection made from meringue and almond flour, not its distant American cousin, the shredded coconut macaroon. …