Chad Robertson

Chad Robertson, the co-founder of San Francisco's iconic Tartine Bakery, is the shokunin who redefined bread for a generation. His country loaf, with its blistered, near-burnt crust, became the gold standard for naturally-leavened bread worldwide, inspiring countless home bakers during the lockdown era. Robertson approaches fermentation with the precision of a watchmaker, meticulously scheduling each step to achieve a perfect balance of flavor and texture. His 2010 book, Tartine Bread, is more than a cookbook; it's a manifesto that reset global standards and turned sourdough into an art form.