When I first saw the article about Linda Ring “The edible art of sourdough faces” in The Guardian ,not only I was taken by her Art but I also found my kindred spirit . I always esteemed food carvings and decoration as the highest form of culinary art and art in general . Its been almost a year or since the beginning of the pandemic ,I myself found a new passion in breadmaking specially sourdough bread benefits of which are numerous . Below is summary of what sourdough bread is and what are its benefits:
- Sourdough is an old form of bread leavening. It relies on a mix of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria that are naturally present in flour, rather than baker’s yeast, to leaven the dough.
- Sourdough bread contains higher levels of folate and antioxidants than other breads. Also, its lower phytate levels allow your body to absorb the nutrients it contains more easily.
- Sourdough bread contains lower amounts of gluten and its prebiotic- and probiotic-like properties may help improve digestion.
- Sourdough fermentation produces changes in the bread that may allow for better blood sugar control and improved insulin sensitivity.
- How to make a sourdough bread? Follow my recipe for a basic sourdough bread
If you are into cooking, baking and presenting food in a unique fashion ,you can also follow my blog : “Wholesome by Christina Gurunian “ specialized in healthy & good looking food.
Now let’s have a look at marvellous Artisanal breads by Linda Ring and her interview with Irma’s world.
Linda Ring, the Swedish photographer, art lover and stylist makes sourdough bread in a traditional way and adds her illustration to make each loaf of bread a piece of art. Besides, her way of living in Stockholm seems a perfect modern life model. We take a glimpse at her home and the beautiful flower arrangements.
IRMA: How did you come up with the initial idea to combine bread making with illustration art?
LINDA RING: I’m a curious nature, and my creative brain never stops thinking about how to make everyday life beautiful.
IRMA: Where do you take inspiration from?
LINDA RING: I’m an educated photographer, but I have been working with visual communication all my life. Mostly like a creative or in a stylist position.
For many years I have been working at Bukowskis auction house. So, art has always been a big part of my life, and I can’t live without it! I grew up in the archipelago outside of Stockholm. Art and nature are my biggest inspirations.
IRMA: What means a loaf of bread for you personally, so that you transformed it into a canvas?
LINDA RING: Bread is such a basic food and means survival for many people in the world, the essence of everyday life. Bread has since thousands of years been a part of people’s life. The sad thing is, when the rise of industrialism came, it destroyed this process. They wanted to streamline and add yeast and it led to remove all the nutrition in the flour. Now many people are gluten intolerant because of that. We have to go back and respect the whole process from how we grow wheat and take care of the grain and let the baking process take time. Time and respect are key here! It is difficult today to find good bread. When I was in Munich the last time, I found a favourite baker, Julius Brantner. Wish he lived in Stockholm so I could buy his bread here!
IRMA: Where can one buy your bread?
LINDA RING: I’m not a baker, so producing many breads at the same time is not what I do.
I started to do this because I wanted to give my family and friends a healthy and beautiful daily bread. It’s like a small gift to everyone around me. I do however work with stylists and collaboration project.
IRMA: How do you get the artwork onto the bread?
LINDA RING: I use a super thin bread lame and just follow my mind or in some cases I draw a sketch on a paper before I start.
IRMA: Do you also experiment with flavours?
LINDA RING: I usually only use flour from a small mill, Warbro Kvarn. They have many different varieties and I follow my mood and try different every time.
IRMA: Looking through your images on Instagram I want to move into your house, smell the flowers on your table and eat your bread . What do you like to do most?
LINDA RING: I love spending time to create and loose myself, so the time and space disappear. Love taking pictures go to flee markets and of course spending time with family and friends.
IRMA: Your favourite place in Stockholm, and why.
LINDA RING: I love Stockholm mostly because it is a quite small town and has a lot of water. There are a lot of nature around Stockholm and I really enjoy going out to the archipelago. But if I’m in the city my favourite place is the National Museum. It’s an amazing place that inspires me every time.
Nowadays I’m not as big a fan of shopping as I was before, but if I’m just allowed to choose one store, it would be Svenskt Tenn. I rather go to small bakeries and take a ”fika” with someone I love or inspires me. After that the best way to end it is with a long walk along the water…
