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On the Rise: Exploring the Future of Bread at Pro Charlotte


Welcome to all of my fellow breadheads. Pro CHARLOTTE CHEF ON ASSIGNMENT PETER REINHART

For two consecutive years, Pro Charlotte has convened some of the bread world’s best and brightest bakers, thinkers and entrepreneurs to share knowledge, wrestle with common challenges and ponder the next big ideas in bread.

Curated by Pro Charlotte Chef on Assignment Peter Reinhart, James Beard Award-winning author of more than 10 books including “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice,” the Symposium follows a TED-talk style format where individual presentations are followed by ample time for interaction and discussion.

Notes Reinhart, “My goal is to provide a collegial environment in which to explore a very controversial, yet beloved, subject. We’ll hear about consumer trends, advances in technology and technique, and socioeconomic factors that are shaping the business of bread, both now and in the future.”

If the major theme of the 2017 Symposium was “bread is back,” 2018’s edition focused on the resurgence of sourdough and included a full day of hands-on workshops on sourdoughs and on baking with rye, polycrops and local grains.

Watch select videos from the 2017 and 2018 editions below, or in greater depth.

2018 Symposium highlights: 

2018 Keynote Nathan Myhrvold, the creator and co-author of “Modernist Bread”:

Professor Eric Pallant, department chair of Environmental Science at Allegheny College:

Jennifer Lapidus, founder and general manager of Carolina Ground Milling: 

Francisco Migoya, head chef of Modernist Cuisine and co-author of “Modernist Bread”:

on Instagram. The next Symposium is being planned for 2020, and after that on a biannual basis. Sign up for news by sending an email to Symposium@jwu.edu.

A man speaking in the Pro Amphitheater with bread art behind him
Francisco Migoya

“Think of yeast as a pet — you can train it. Yeast will adapt.” Francisco Migoya of “Modernist Bread” speaking at the 2017 #ProBread Symposium.

Pro’s Food Innovation Design Lab in action.

A partnership between the Food Innovation Nexus and Johnson & Wales promises to revolutionize food, medicine and health.

Pro Charlotte Chef on Assignment Peter Reinhart interviews Harry Peemoeller about bread.

Pro Charlotte Chef on Assignment Peter Reinhart shares big ideas and takeaways from Pro Charlotte’s first annual Bread Symposium.

Matt Tortora '15 of food distribution platform What’s Good

Tortora’s venture, Crave Food Services, uses technology and big data to get local ingredients into restaurants, schools, hospitals and businesses.