This post is not for the gluten free friends of mine... sorry. Today's post honors one of my favorite foods... bread and a Belgium bakery that just arrived in Chicago.
Le Pain Quotidien has officially opened two stores in the Chicago area. One at Randolph and Clinton and the other at 1000 West Armitage, with another opening at 10 East Delaware soon. I highly recommend stopping in for breakfast, lunch or dinner as their seasonal and fresh menu always has something you'll want on it.
About a month ago (side note, can't believe that much time has passed) I had the privelage of attending a class at the store. We made coconut chia pudding shortcakes and pea hummus tartines. Yes, those sound so fancy... but trust me, even a novice chef could do this at home! Plus, the staff were so nice and willing to help when thing's didn't look quite right. I had an awesome time and I plan to go back later this summer for a Artisan Pizza Making class. The only thing I might like more than bread is pizza.
LPQ wants you to come in for a class too! They're offering the first three readers (that's 3 of you) a $10 discount when you register for a class this summer. The code to use is LPQ103. A schedule of the classes available in Chicago this summer at the West Loop Bakery can be found here:
www.lepainquotidien.com/west-loop-bakery and the three courses they're starting with are designed to cover the fundamentals of baking for everyone... from beginner to expert!
Bread Baking Basics
This three-hour class will cover the 10 steps of bread baking in-depth and students will participate in each one, from selecting ingredients, to kneading dough by hand, to shaping, scoring and baking (and tasting, of course!). Students will be led by LPQ baking instructors who will help them to create hearth-style loaves in their own ovens.
Biscuits & Scones
This 90 minute class is perfect for anyone that loves breakfast and short doughs and wants to learn the techniques behind having a good ‘biscuit hand.’ Students will learn to make a biscuits and scones with both a classic and seasonal approach as well as complimentary homemade spreads. At the end of class, the warm biscuits and scones will be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea at our communal table.
Artisan Pizza Making
While Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, LPQ bakers will be showing students how quick and simple it is to create thin-crust, artisan pizzas. From the kneading of the dough to topping selection to baking, this class will cover it all and after you have worked up an appetite, you'll will enjoy the fruits of your labor with a glass of wine at the communal table.
So, which class, or classes, are you signing up for?
images via Le Pain Quotidien
