So for a cheese layer, he opted for a spread of Gorgonzola and mascarpone cheeses. We want the full effect of every ingredient. Bread dough, however, plays a part in unexpected places. With salads, for instance, the company makes sure the accompanying roll is served warm. Not only does the heat enhance the flavor, O'Donovan says, it also creates contrast with cool greens.
People remember the bread.
For all the endless combinations made possible by the creative breads available today, taking a simple approach might seem uninspired, even boring. Yet treating bread as an important element doesn't necessarily require complicated flavor combinations or creative pairings, operators say. Some customers at Bouley are overwhelmed by the immense bread cart, Bistrong says, and have trouble choosing. Of the 17 or so breads offered daily at St. Louis Bread, only about 10 are paired specifically with menu items, O'Donovan says. A customer can request any bread made in the store, but the company has tried to narrow down those that work best with salads, soups and sandwiches.