Sourdough (a Book for Bread lovers and Techies)

The book Sourdough did not start out the way I expected. What I had expected was to be thrown into a kitchen setting with a struggling chef or wanna be chef.  Instead the author reveals herself to be a computer geek (a software engineer) in a company in San Francisco that writes the code for robotic arms. These robotic arms are being designed to take over many functions now done by human beings.  What a concept!  

Her work sounds fascinating but stressful, very stressful. While I don't code and I don't work for a big tech company in San Francisco, I do work in Information Technology (IT). I can tell you with great assurance that no matter what you do in IT the stress level is always high and you walk around with a knot in your stomach.  Sadly my top draw holds a bottle of tums that never stays full.  A lack of calcium is not my problem.

One day she comes home from work and finds an advertisement/menu. I am sure you have all seen ones that are  similar. They are usually left in your mailbox by the pizza,  Chinese or Thai take out places.  She decides she will forego her nightly slurry ( liquid nutritional meal replacement)and order in.  When the "double spicy" arrives at her door her life changes. 

Alas all good things must come to an end and the brothers that own this take out place can't renew their visas and close up shop.  She is devastated.  She has lost her sustenance. But before the brothers depart the US they give her a present, their sourdough starter.

I forgot to mention that food is often a stress reducer when you work in IT. When I first started working, my department consisted of five guys and me one female.  What I discovered is that men use food to decompress just like women.  Where to go for lunch is discussed at 8:30 in the morning.  Why because it will be a milestone in our day.  Our only break.   

Once she receives the starter she becomes consumed by the bread she learns to bake.  Soon after her tech world and her foodie world collide.  All I can say about this book is that it is a fun read.  Try it!