bake - November/December 2024 - 14

Manresa Bread is a neighborhood bakery founded by
Avery Ruzicka, a 2020 James Beard finalist.
There, the latest ingredient to climb the charts is pistachios.
According to trend-tracking platform Tastewise,
conversations about pistachios are up by 10% from
last year, with interest in pistachios as an ingredient
rising by 15%.
One baker leading the charge on this trend is Ruzicka.
Manresa Bread offers a Pistachio Escargot, a swirl of
flaky croissant dough with rich pistachio frangipane and
walnuts throughout. After baking, Pistachio Escargot is
glazed with a decadent honey syrup.
" Don't overcomplicate the flavor
profile when using pistachios.
Let pistachio be the star. "
Avery Ruzicka of Manresa Bread
" We love to use pistachios in our frangipane. The flavor
always tell our team, we aren't baking
for ourselves. We are baking for people.
We're baking for our guests who have
visited us and supported us for so many
years, from back when we were one
shop in Soho with just four employees.
" So we're always listening, always
coming up with new ideas, always changing
our menus but keeping those classics alive too.
For us, it's never about G trends or trying to create something
purposefully in hopes that it goes 'viral.' Because
at the end of the day, if it just looks unique but doesn't
taste good, then what's the point? It's about making
something genuine, using good quality ingredients,
something that connects with people, something we
believe in. That's what will last for years. "
Trending ingredients
In other parts of the country, innovation in pastry and
bakery continues to flourish. Based in Northern California,
14 < NOV-DEC 2024 | bakemag.com
of pistachios is nutty, rich, and sweeter than other nuts.
I love using it in frangipane because it means that each
bite has a lot of pistachio in it, so the flavor is strong
without using extracts, " Ruzicka explains.
Basic steps and flow in the production process start
with deciding whether to use whole nuts or pistachio
flour. Whole nuts can burn easily, she points out, so you
have to be careful how you use them and consider baking
time and temperature of your final product.
For example, a cookie is a great vehicle for whole
pistachios because they cook for a short period of
time. If you want to use pistachio flour then think about
what you are filling, layering, or mixing with the flour
and whether it will amplify the flavor of pistachio,
Ruzicka shares.
" We like to use the flour in financiers or frangipane.
You don't want to be stingy with a layer of
pistachio frangipane in an escargot or a babka. "
All nuts are meaty, " but I think pistachios have a sweetness
to their flavor that makes them more delicate but
also richer. Don't overcomplicate the flavor profile when
using pistachios. Let pistachio be the star. "
Gluten-free options
Dr. Schär, a leading brand in gluten-free products, recently
announced the launch of its Artisan Baker White Bread
and Deli Style bread in all Publix stores. This recent
expansion brings Dr Schär's products to new markets,
MANRESA BREAD
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bake - November/December 2024

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