Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2017)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com Regional News February 22, 2017 A9 Breadmaker relies on ancient grains By Matthew Weaver Capital Press SPOKANE — When Shaun Thompson Duffy and his family moved to Spokane fi ve years ago, he found the close proximity to the Palouse — one of the nation’s most productive wheat-growing ar- eas — appealing. “It just sort of makes sense for a bread baker to be here,” Thompson Duffy said. “There’s so much potential here, with food, with grains, with life in general.” Thompson Duffy owns Culture Breads. He currently sells his breads at the Rocket Market and Doma Coffee, and through subscription. He maxed out at 50 cus- tomers, and had to get a big- ger oven to take on more peo- ple. He still has a waiting list of 150 people. He said he intends to open a storefront in the Perry Dis- trict in south Spokane at the end of August. Originally from Texas, Thompson Duffy attended cu- linary school and was a chef in Las Vegas, New York City and hotels in Texas and Chi- cago, where he began, in his words, “exploring” bread. “You can be at the top of the bread game but you can still have a life,” he said. Matthew Weaver/Capital Press Shaun Thompson Duffy bakes bread made from freshly milled ancient and heritage grains Feb. 17 in south Spokane. Matthew Weaver/Capital Press Culture Breads owner Shaun Thompson Duffy talks about his flour milling and bread-baking “And you can really do it on your own terms.” Thompson Duffy, 36, uses ancient, heritage or landra- ce grains, including spelt, einkorn, rye, Khorasan wheat, Turkey Red wheat, sonora wheat, Egyptian barley and Red Russian wheat, of which he says, “It’s my favorite grain in the world.” He buys the grains from area farmers. Carole Landt, a Reardan, Wash., farmer, provided Thompson Duffy with Kho- rasan wheat, or kamut, an ancient wheat whose grains are double the size of other wheat. “I think he’s a caring in- dividual that wants to make great, healthy bread for peo- ple,” she said. “I believe in that process, and I’d sure like to move that movement along.” Don Scheuerman is co-founder of Palouse Heri- tage, which raises heirloom landrace grains in Endicott, Wash. He hopes Thompson Duffy is successful as “a voice in educating about bread” and provides “landrace breads to the Spokane market that are good for the soul, the soil, the environment and the health of his friends and customers.” Thompson Duffy currently mills his grains in Post Falls, Idaho, once a week and bakes using a custom wood-burning oven in south Spokane. He will switch to twice a week as the weather gets warmer and move a mill into the bakery. He gives talks about bread and setting up bakeries or piz- za shops in the region, and offers bread-baking classes at Spokane public libraries. He hopes to encourage businesses to use whole grains for fl avor, nutrition and digestibility. Thompson Duffy eventu- ally wants 7 to 9 tons of each grain each year, although he’s interested in smaller amounts, too. Thompson Duffy is look- ing for farmers who use nat- ural practices and no chem- icals. He’s also willing to contract-mill grains for farm- ers looking to sell fl our. “I’m looking for the funk- iest grains, just stuff that’s good and cool and whole,” he said. “I don’t really use a lot of modern wheat. I’m not one of those guys who doesn’t use modern wheat, but ... the funkier the better.” Thompson Duffy can be reached at culturebreads@ gmail.com Jeff Harman, MA., LPC Professional Counseling In A Private Setting Are you struggling with winter depression? Do you feel hopeless or has the joy gone out of your life? Are you struggling to keep your family together? I can help! To schedule an appointment call Jeff Harman (541) 426-3067 Preferred Provider for Regence Blue Cross, ODS, Cascade Centers and many other private insurance and employee assistance programs. www.jharmancounseling.com Confused about Medicare Supplement Coverage? YOU HAVE CHOICES! If you have a Medicare Supplement Plan, you have 30 days after your birthday to compare & apply for a new Supplement Plan. Call Kathleen today to discuss your options and see if you qualify for a lower premium. 541-426-4208 Locally owned & operated 616 W. North Street Enterprise
