‘Where to score loaves’
R.I.’s Seven Stars Bakery among best, says Food Network
By Gail Ciampa Journal Food Editor
Seven Stars Bakery at 1255 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, one of its four Rhode Island stores. [THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, FILE / GAIL CIAMPA]
PROVIDENCE -- Seven Stars Bakery is on Food Network’s newly published list of “The Best Bread Bakeries in America.”
“From standout sourdough to rustic rye to crackly baguettes, here’s where to score loaves from the best bread bakeries from coast to coast,” begins the list.
Seven Stars owners Bill and Tracy Daugherty, with four bakeries operating and one soon coming on board, were pleased.
“Tracy and I are thrilled for Sarah and her team.... well earned and really cool,” said Bill Daugherty of head baker Sarah Williams.
“Even Lynn and Jim are impressed!” he added.
Lynn and Jim Williams founded the bakery in 2001 in Providence and sold it to the Daughertys in 2018.
Food Network wrote:
“Since Seven Stars Bakery opened in Providence in 2001, its mission has been simple: Bake great stuff. For head baker Sarah Williams, that means using flavorful, freshly milled flour. Since 2015, all flours are stone milled in-house from grains sourced from Maine Grains, including Glenn (a hard-red spring wheat), rye, spelt and oats — to the tune of 2,500 pounds of flour a week.
“Additionally, Williams opts not to sift any of the bran off the whole grain flour, yielding flours that are 100% whole grain. Each loaf of bread starts with over 50% freshly milled whole wheat flour and/or a 100% whole rye starter, before undergoing a slow fermentation process. It takes three days for a loaf to reach the bakery shelf, and those slow fermenting starters are what imbue the breads with deep flavor and a hint of natural sweetness, not to mention superior texture and a longer shelf life.
“Try the signature country bread, a rustic, savory sourdough made from a blend of Glenn and rye flours that has a balanced buttery-earthy-tangy flavor profile.”
New England has six bakeries on the list of 35, with Seven Stars the only one in Rhode Island. Food Network did get one thing wrong, failing to mention the East Providence store, along with the two in Providence and one in Cranston. They bake in Pawtucket.
Find the story and list here: https://www.food-network.com/restaurants/photos/best-bread-bakeries-america gciampa@ providencejournal.com
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