Cultures in Culture: Sourdough

1901 Vine Street,Philadelphia PA 19103

10 January, 2022

Description

Curious about fermentation? Explore the process through a cultural lens with the Culinary Literacy Center! Cultures in Culture puts chefs in dialogue about the fermentation process and its cultural significance in their respective culinary traditions. In this interactive program, you'll learn the history and true science behind fermentation through demonstration, preparation, and conversation. Tune in for this third session on fermented bread to learn the history of how the ancient process of bread leavening was developed across the world. John McGrath from Germantown's Merzbacher's Bakery will teach us the basics of sourdough bread making and the science of fermentation. Participants will learn the science behind fermentation, how to use and maintain a starter, and how to shape and bake incredible loaves. After a hands-on demonstration, attendees will leave with some cultures to make their own starter, dough to ferment, and dough to bake at home. Safety is our top priority. This event has limited in-person tickets to ensure safe, physical distancing. According to current guidance from the city of Philadelphia, it is required that all in-person attendees, regardless of vaccination status, mask for this indoor event. Those who are not fully vaccinated should take additional precautions. For more information about our Covid safety precautions, please email [email protected]. All proceeds from ticket sales go towards supporting the Culinary Literacy's Center programs for youth, neighborhood engagement, and English language learning. To learn more, please visit freelibrary.org/cook! Free tickets available for SNAP eligible families and for anyone who cannot afford the fee right now but would still like to participate. Please email [email protected] for more information. Merzbacher's of Germantown (formerly Philly Bread) is a bakery dedicated to bringing people together by breaking bread with open minds and open hearts. They take pride in re-imagining classics into delicious breads that strike a balance between inventive and approachable with local ingredients, thoughtful formulas, and artisan processes. You can find their new facility on Germantown Ave, where a bread shop offers fresh bread and a starter kit for aspiring home bakers. Merzbacher's John McGrath will present elements of the 5-week Breaducation course. Every bite of food we eat tells a story. Here’s ours: The Free Library is advancing literacy in Philadelphia in a unique and innovative way—with a fork and a spoon. Cooking and eating are educational acts and provide opportunities to learn math, science, languages, history and so much more. Using cooking as the vehicle for learning, the Culinary Literacy Center advances literacy through food and cooking around a communal table. Opened in 2014, the Culinary Literacy Center is the first space of its kind in a public library and serves as a model for libraries worldwide. The Culinary Literacy Center is based in our kitchen classroom at Parkway Central, but we offer programming at nearly all of our neighborhood libraries. Culinary Literacy Center programs teach healthy cooking, build community, and promote civic dialogue. Pull up a seat at our table and see what’s cooking at the Free Library of Philadelphia!